| Re: Trap problem for moth the experts
Some good advice from Mr Mag00. Having veins is definitely a good idea.
I live in a rural area, use a 6W actinic Heath trap maybe once a week and get a good number of moths (my macro species list is 120+ and have only been trapping since May this year in my current location). The trap is on a light activated switch so that it turns off when the ambient light gets high enough. I usually empty it soon after dawn. Using a 6W trap, I don't have to worry too much about affecting the local moth populations. Also I don't have to worry about rain on the tube as it runs quite cool; a small funnel in a hole in the trap underneath the entrance funnels away any rain falling into the trap (the funnel has gauze in the bottom to stop the moths escaping).
The first thing I would definitely try is putting your trap on all night. If it has no rain protection then make something for it if it runs hot or the electrics are at risk.
You may have just been unlucky; some rainy nights you hardly get any moths at all. Not sure where you have your trap but, often putting it against a hedge row or natural boundary may improve things; moths often fly along hedges and borders.
You are lucky to have so little light pollution!! With 5-10 species in the house per night, you should be getting loads (unless lights on your house are distracting the moths from the trap?).
What are your surroundings? Arable/woodland etc? Sorry, not sure where Angus is (except in Scotland).  |