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Insects were sampled with a light-trap at five desert sites for 2 years around each new moon. The total catch contained 90,001 invertebrates, and their abundance followed an annual cycle with lower catches during the cooler winter and extreme heat of summer. Lepidoptera and Coleoptera were especially numerous, and the latter contributed >46% biomass (dry weight) captured. There were significant differences in invertebrate abundance and diversity between trapping sites. Although these trends were similar to those observed for ground-dwelling invertebrates at the same sites, relationships were not strong. The mobility of aerial insects may enable them to exploit habitats too acid for some ground-dwelling species. Flying insects form a significant part of the desert community and should be included in biodiversity studies. (C) 1999 Academic Press.