Building a moth trap

[kiwi]

hi guys,
my dad and i want to build a moth trap im happy to buy the materials and my dad can help cut wood ect. But how much do you guys think the materials will cost, and also can someone give me a link to a step by step guide to building a moth trap?

thanks in advance

[Geoff F]

You may get a better response if you ask this question in the Moth Forum. However, checking the side panel ads beside this post show many offers for equipment to kill moths in the house, which I suspect isn't what you meant.

Complete traps appear to sell for between £150 and £250 for a basic unit which, to my eyes isn't much more than a plywood box with one or two lights, a circuit breaker and a bit of wiring.

NHBS are offering the electrics seperately NHBS - 60W Actinic Moth Trap Electrics (240V) which looks like it is designed for a basic garden use trap; but I'm not sure how this compares for efficiency and cost.

[Jonners]

I've always fancied having a moth trap, but have found them a bit on the pricey side, so will be interested to see how you get along. I remember seeing someone's several years back, which had pieces of cardboard egg box inside so that the moths had somewhere to hide up. (as well as the light etc)

[charlieb]

Have a read of this: contact

If you want to do it "properly" (i.e. with MV or actinic bulbs - catch much more moths than ordinary bulbs) it's not a case of just wiring up a bulb to a battery or mains - some extra electrics are required, which obviously add to the cost (the bulbs themselves aren't cheap).

The cheapest traps ALS (for instance) do are around £100 (see Moth Traps - Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies - Moth Traps & Entomological Equipment) - but they do just the electrics for £60 fully wired - which I would recommend rather than buying it bit by bit (unless your are a qualified electrician ).

[ChrisJB]

My pal gave me his old home made moth trap a few years ago. The 'container' is one of those large water dispenser bottles found in offices. He cut the top off and inverted it to form the funnel. It worked an absolute treat. I wondered if the hole might be a little on the small side, but I regularly caught elephant, lime and poplar-hawk moths. In terms of the electrics though, I am a complete haybag on the subject. Sorry.

Regards, Chris

[Lance Morgan]

Easy to build. Essentially all you need is a 2ft square wooden box and a light etc. Couple of pieces of glass/perspex or large funnel on top to keep
your catch from escaping. If you do a search 'build moth trap' this has been discussed before.
Tip: dont mess about with actinics, get a mercury blended bulb or better still a mercury set up. You can buy the mercury blended bulb and don't need all the electrics required just a bulb holder and flex direct plug to mains. So will start from mains without choke. I did this year and my catch increased dramatically.

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by Lance Morgan

You can buy the mercury blended bulb and don't need all the electrics required just a bulb holder and flex direct plug to mains.

Aren't they incredibly expensive?

[wildlifesnapper]

Originally Posted by charlieb

Aren't they incredibly expensive?

£13 each or £10.50 each for 3+ ( 160 watt) from ELG (Paul Batty)

He also does a "Hawk" 125W mercury Vapour trap for £109 + postage

neil

[Lancashire Lad]

Just be safe when you are sorting out your electrics

Have a read of these threads: -

First attempt with diy moth trap

how to make a moth trap?

Regards,
Mike.

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

£13 each or £10.50 each for 3+ ( 160 watt) from ELG (Paul Batty)

Well that's not incredibly expensive I suppose

Would I be right in saying there catch rate is less than with a standard MV bulb?