Moth Traps

[ollyk]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

I think your main problem is the bulb.If you don't want to go to the trouble of using a MV bulb and having to fit a choke , use a blended bulb.I use one of these for my trap at home and they are great.No choke needed , just plug it straight into the mains, gives off plenty of UV light.
Don't worry about baffles , you've got a skinner trap, the moths fall down the the slanted plastic. The black top shouldn't make much difference to your catch, in fact you need a rain shield if you are going to us a blended bulb as they run very hot and the slightest drop of rain will shatter it. If you can it may be better to replace it with some clear perspex just to pull in any moths that fly overhead ,the more light the better, although the bulbs are very bright anyway.
Replace the bulb with a 160 watt blended and I'm sure you'll catch a load more.Try Paul Batty for bulbs.Just google "ELG" for the Entomological Livestock Group and then click on moth traps.

neil

Thanks Neil, I think I will give blended bulbs a miss as they look a little too expensive! I was looking at BLB lamp like this, Compact UV Bulb (should be at least half the price at a wholesaler than Maplins sell it for!)
It's worth a try and if it doesn't work I can use it to illuminate all the glow up stars in my daughters bedroom

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi again,

yeah , give it a go , they sell them at ELG. so they must work.

By the way blendeds arn't that much dearer at ELG. but they are very expensive from Anglian entomological £25

Good luck ,hope you catch plenty

neil

[JPJPJP]

My kids want to look at a few butterflies and moths so we are going to gently catch a few to study and release.

We have a bugbuster in the house and I am curious on your views as to its suitability. The video on buyabugbuster specifically shows it catching a moth and it claims to be humane - any thoughts?

Cheers and thanks

[charlieb]

From what I can gather it's basically a vacuum cleaner for bugs?

This shouldn't cause any harm, and is probably the most humane method for catching bugs - indeed entomologists use a very similar device to catch insects for study, albeit a "human powered" (think sucking up bugs with a straw) rather than battery powered one.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

I think your main problem is the bulb.If you don't want to go to the trouble of using a MV bulb and having to fit a choke , use a blended bulb.I use one of these for my trap at home and they are great.No choke needed , just plug it straight into the mains, gives off plenty of UV light.

neil

I totally agree. I have used blended bulbs and found them excellent. Not as good as a MV, but still the results were very pleasing.

Regards, Chris