Mercury Bulbs

[JOHN WEST]

I am really interested in building a moth trap,but don`t understand why you use a mercury light bulb.Could somebody please help,I`ve got loads of pic`s but had to take them in some really strange places.

Many Thanks

John

[goosey]

Originally Posted by JOHN WEST

I am really interested in building a moth trap,but don`t understand why you use a mercury light bulb.Could somebody please help,I`ve got loads of pic`s but had to take them in some really strange places.

Many Thanks

John

I spent evenings last summer running round the garden with a torch, camera and step ladders getting photo's of moths, neighbours thought I was mad A moth trap would make life a bit easier but they are rather expensive. So I consoled myself with the thought it would be cheating if I had one But making one would be an option I'd be willing to try. So I too would to welcome any hints!

[nightshade]

Mercury lamps are very bright and delicate/expensive a serious moth-ers choice
I have made one from a heavy duty folding crate(B&Q)a strip of ply that slides
firmly through the handles and carries a bulkhead lamp fitting and an eco-lamp
(there is even a dawn to dusk switching version)
The whole lot folds reasonably flat for storage,there are plans here for another type; http://www.angleps.btinternet.co.uk/moth_guid.pdf

[canonman]

Hi
MV bulbs are very bright, if you live in an area over looked by neighbours I think that you will not stay friends with them for long.
I would suggest you try an Actinic system , these are not very bright and will run even in light rain because they do not run hot.
They will cut your catches down a bit, but this is not a bad thing if you are just learning.
It will allow you time to identify the ones you have caught. In the right condition MV traps have been known to catch will over a 1000 moths.
Hope this helps a bit
Mick

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi John,

we use mercury vapour because the give out a lot of ultra violet light and moths are more sensitive to this.
You will need a choke system between the mains and the bulb so it can warm up slowly or it will blow!
You can also use what they call a blended bulb which will run straight from the mains without a choke but these run very hot and will need protecting from any rain falling on it.
As for the neighbours you can get a black light bulb which gives off no visible light but emit ultra violet.
Try the ELG website for traps & bulbs Entomological Livestock Group I get my electrics off Paul.

neil

[GRH]

Mercury Vapour bulbs have a high Ultra-violet output, which is what attracts the moths and why moth'ers use them (they attract more moths than other types of bulb). The disadvantages are - they're extremely bright, so not recommended in areas overlooked by houses, they run very hot, so need to be protected from rain (otherwise may shatter), they're expensive, and require a choke (IE can't be run straight off mains).

Greg

IE What Neil said between me clicking 'post reply' and then 'submit'!

[Paul mabbott]

No great amplification on what others have said but different light sources do, to an extent, attract different moths. So if you want a broader range of catch then try different light sources.

[Paul mabbott]

PS: they also attract other insects. A plea that I alway make is that mothers shouldn't ignore the other (more? ) interesting animals, such as beetles, that turn up at traps .... if you know nothing about beetles &c then there ae plenty of people who can help
Good luck with whatever method you chose.

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

No great amplification on what others have said but different light sources do, to an extent, attract different moths. So if you want a broader range of catch then try different light sources.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

PS: they also attract other insects. A plea that I alway make is that mothers shouldn't ignore the other (more? ) interesting animals, such as beetles, that turn up at traps .... if you know nothing about beetles &c then there ae plenty of people who can help
Good luck with whatever method you chose.

they also attract the local bat population - wich treat them as a drop in cafe - not entirely desirable but it does make for a good night out with a bat detector as well as a moth trap.

[Paul mabbott]

Just concentrating local biological activity! Not a bad thing .....

Originally Posted by eeyore

they also attract the local bat population - wich treat them as a drop in cafe - not entirely desirable but it does make for a good night out with a bat detector as well as a moth trap.