The dataset contains mean masses of butterfly species and different noctuid moth size classes collected between end of May and beginning of September 2020 using different Malaise traps in three low mountain range regions in Germany: Hunsrueck (National Park Hunsrueck-Hochwald), Spessart (Rhine-Main-Observatory) and Steigerwald. The butterflies were stored in alcohol after their capture and were weighed with a precision scale (0.001 g) after shaking them briefly to remove residual alcohol. Part of the specimen collected was used for DNA-metabarcoding. The other part was deposited in the specimen collection of the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld (Trier University of Applied Sciences).

Further funding:* Trier University of Applied Sciences: Junior Researcher Fund