Arboreal

An animal is described as arboreal if it lives in trees. There are many different arboreal invertebrates including species of ant, tarantula, stick insect and many different species of moth and butterfly.

In some case trees are so tall that it is difficult for entomologists to reach the top part where the leaves are (the tree canopy). In order to examine the insects living at the tops of trees the entomologists can use a technique called canopy fogging or knockdown sampling. This technique involves positioning collecting funnels under the tree being sampled. The tree's canopy is then 'fogged' with an insecticide and the insects fall from the tree and land in the funnels where they can be examined.

Fogging is best used on very large trees, small trees can be sampled using a beating tray.

A photograph of a Purple Hairstreak butterfly (Neozephyrus quercus). This butterfly is usually found in the tree canopy within oak woodlands.
Photograph by Svdmolen licensed under Creative Commons.

Other names for (or types of) Arboreal include:

• Tree dwelling

Related terms

• Beating tray

Related groups of terms

• General biology

See other words beginning with A