My Moth-trap...

[Jason Green]

Hi WAB'ers,

I have had an interest in moth-trapping for a while now and, instead of buying one for no particular reason but experimentation, I made one myself.

Here are the pictures:


The trap with light on
Please remember I've never used one and so haven't seen one to touch before, so it's probably not going to work out. I'm going to try it out tonight and will post any pics of moths if it does.


In Position
This was taken last night in a photo session

As for the moths, what advantages are there for them? Apart from the sake of conservation, does it enable breeding by attracting several of the same species?

Take care,

Jason

[Bruce Williams]

Jason - An interesting post - thanks. I was just about to buy a Skinner moth trap, however your post has made me wonder about making one myself.

Good luck with your trap .

Bruce

[Jason Green]

Hi Bruce, thanks !

It's, wait for it: cardboard and sellotape!

Specifications
Light: 1x 8,000mcd white LED
Power: 3x 2,500mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries
Size: 17x8x6cms. Maybe too small...

[naturegirl]

Well done for making it Jason!

My first moth trap was an old biscuit tin. I cut a large hole in the lid for the funnel (took me a week) and a small one in the bottom for a smaller funnel (to let moisture drain). I had an old caravan strip light which I just extended the wires of and taped all the electric gubbins into an old ice cream carton. I made some fins out of perspex from my kid's handicraft box, this also held the light upright.

I've never looked back since!!

I may still have the box of a Heath trap but no electrics. You are more than welcome to it if you wish. I use a Robinsons now but even this was in bits and pieces. I was given the base by a friend, I bought the funnel from Watkins and Doncaster. It was half price due to being damaged. I made the perspex dome and a friend wired the bulb holder for me. Magic!!

You don't have to spend a lot of dosh on one.

Naturegirl

[Jason Green]

Naturegirl-

Well done for making it Jason!

Thanks

My first moth trap was an old biscuit tin. I cut a large hole in the lid for the funnel (took me a week) and a small one in the bottom for a smaller funnel (to let moisture drain). I had an old caravan strip light which I just extended the wires of and taped all the electric gubbins into an old ice cream carton. I made some fins out of perspex from my kid's handicraft box, this also held the light upright.

Sounds good; what did you catch?

You don't have to spend a lot of dosh on one.

Naturegirl

Exactly! I think all electrics considered, around £15-ish. (£12 for the batts )

I turned it on around 21:25pm - I'll check on it later...

[naturegirl]

Believe it or not, a lot of moths!!

In those days when I was just starting out, it used to take me nearly all day to id them!! I would wizz round with some spray polish (to make my hubby think I'd been busy doing housework) before picking the kids up from school Bad girl!

We had a holiday in the south of France in those day and hubby said "you are NOT taking the moth trap" (red rag to a bull!) I hid the electrics in my suitcase (we drove down) and found a cardboard box when we arrived, just the job!!

The strangest thing I found in the trap whilst there was a Preying mantis! Cool!

Something I spotted when on holiday in Turkey was a Mole cricket, outstanding!!

Naturegirl

[Jason Green]

Believe it or not, a lot of moths!!

I believe it...

In those days when I was just starting out, it used to take me nearly all day to id them!! I would wizz round with some spray polish (to make my hubby think I'd been busy doing housework) before picking the kids up from school Bad girl!

We had a holiday in the south of France in those day and hubby said "you are NOT taking the moth trap" (red rag to a bull!) I hid the electrics in my suitcase (we drove down) and found a cardboard box when we arrived, just the job!!

That was handy! It was a bit like mine then.

The strangest thing I found in the trap whilst there was a Preying mantis! Cool!

Really? I didn't know they had a particular fondness for light.

UPDATE: No moths - yet, but a small Long-legged Delichopus sp.! Early days... (or hours?!)

[naturegirl]

Ta for that Jason!!

Go for it boyo!!

Sorry if the posts about me ex- hubby upset you...... I'm actually truthful now, honest! (but still alone).

The Preying mantis was obviously attracted to the light? Why else would it be there? other than finding prey I suppose?

I also made a 'Skinner trap' (my mate Bernard!) out of cardboard and used an ultra violet fish tank tube for light which worked ok but not if it got damp! as it would collapse then...

I have my trap on tonight and it seems to be fairly active so far. . . .. . .

Naturegirl

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

...I have my trap on tonight and it seems to be fairly active so far...

Naturegirl

What did you catch then?

UPDATE: After 14hrs of activation, I checked the trap this morning - and nothing

I will take it the design was wrong .

Time for a re-design... Follow the progress of this in my new blog...

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hi Bruce, thanks !

It's, wait for it: cardboard and sellotape!

Specifications
Light: 1x 8,000mcd white LED
Power: 3x 2,500mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries
Size: 17x8x6cms. Maybe too small...

Sounds like Blue peter..
Fascinating post can't wait to see what you get after the redesign.

[Jason Green]

Kayleigh-

Sounds like Blue peter..

Yes, it was one I made earlier!

Fascinating post can't wait to see what you get after the redesign.

Thanks! It can only be more successful I hope...

[naturegirl]

I got a Waved Black today Jason!!!! They are a local speciality along with The Triangle and Scarce Merville Du Jour!!!

Here is my list:

Poplar hawk x 1
Buff arches x 1
Rosy footman x 9
Mother of pearl x 4 (Pyralid)
Common footman x 2
The clay x 1
Buff footman x 4
Nut tree tussock x 2
Peppered x 4
E. flammealis x 12 (Pyralid)
Single dotted wave x 1
Burnished brass x 1
Gold triangle x 1 (Pyralid)
Mottled beauty x 1
Waved black x 1
Straw dot x 1
Perlella x 1 (Pyralid)
Flame shoulder x 2
Common rustic x 1
Dark arches x 2
Purple thorn x 2
Elephant hawk x 2
Small fan footed wave x 1
Small scallop x 1
Lesser broad bordered yellow underwing x 1
Buff ermine x 1
Blood vein x 1
Riband wave x 1
Many plumed or 20 plumed x 2 (Micro)
Prunalis x 1 (Pyralid)
Bird cherry ermine x 1 (Micro)
Dwarf cream wave x 2

PS the other night I had a Saltern ear moth, nice find!

This list may look ok but at my old house I would have taken at least 2-3 times as many species and I'm only about 2-300 yards downhill from it!

Naturegirl

[Jason Green]

Naturegirl-

What an amazing list!!
I'd particularly like to see the Endotricha flammealis and Gold triangle, they're so attractive.

Yes, it's funny how restricted the ranges seem.

Are there any species you'd like to catch that you haven't already?

[naturegirl]

Jason, do you not get E. flammealis where you are? I thought they were a very common species of Pyralid moth?

I would love to get a Triangle actually in my trap!! I have seen them in the woods near to where I trap but never actually trapped one myself.

I would also LOVE to trap a Blue underwing, Clifton nonpariel!! I actually released a female of this species (trapped on the coast) in the woods where I trap which had 10 year old Aspen. They (larvae) only exist on this tree of this age apparently and were known there many years ago!

2 Years ago some tourists came to Kent Goes Wild and told us about a large moth that had a blue underwing at their campsite along the south coast!!!! Can you imagine how we felt??????????????

We made investigations to no avail......................

Se la vie................

I have my trap on tonight though..........................?

Naturegirl

[Jason Green]

Naturegirl-

...do you not get E. flammealis where you are?

I probably do, I've just never seen one. I imagine the good thing about trapping is you learn which types you do get at night, ones you wouldn't necerssarily know otherwise.

...some tourists came to Kent Goes Wild and told us about a large moth that had a blue underwing at their campsite along the south coast!!!! Can you imagine how we felt??????????????

I have my trap on tonight though...

Naturegirl

Me too, v2.0 this time!!


This is the best angle of the new, bigger trap. It measures 15x30x13cms. Hopefully it's better than the last one!


This angle shows the two-tier design. The lower section will remain uniluminated. The squares you can see are 1cm² each. This gives a quick guage of measurement.


This is the 'entrance', the shape makes it easier for a moth to enter but harder to leave, though deliberately not impossible!


This demonstrates the release mode. Both the plastic front panel and top entrance-side open up to allow those caught to leave.

The new design is replicated from typical traps and should work. I'll re-post tommorrow if it does

[naturegirl]

Can't wait to see what you get Jason!!!

Naturegirl

[Jason Green]

Just tried v2.0, 14hrs under a clear sky - still nothing

I'll keep trying and re-designing though, time for v3.0?

OK, what have you caught lately NG?

[evan]

You may have to try different leds. Moths are not usually attracted to white leds. Try using either full spectrum leds or possibly adding some UV leds.

Evan

[naturegirl]

Hi Jason, have been doing my babysitting duties again this week.

I have trapped every other night with my Robinson's.

03.08.08
Large emerald x 1
Dun bar x 3
Brimstone x 1
Dark arches x 3
Riband wave x 1, banded form x 1
Small fan footed wave x 1
Straw dit x 2
E. flammealis x 2 (Pyralid)
Double striped pug x 1
Buff ermine x 2
Advenella x 2 (Pyralid)
Flame shoulder x 3
Mouse moth x 1
Common rustic x 1
Gold triangle x 1 (Pyralid)
Ruby tiger x 1
Single dotted wave x 1
Pinguis x 1 (Pyralid)
Rosy footman x 1
Scarce silver lines x 1
Nut tree tussock x 1
Shuttle shaped dart x 1
Ringed china mark x 1 (Pyralid)
Grey pine carpet x 1 (small so 2nd generation)
E. murcurella x 1 (Pyralid)

04.08.08
Was my ****** birthday so down to local for a noggin hic! or 3!!
Whilst there and before too much booze I saw a larger than normal 'Hornet type thing' which whizzed round the outside lights before buzzing (ha ha) off! It was definitely a member of the hornet family, not a horntail. Normally Hornets and the like are fast asleep by 9-10pm surely?
Mrs fish did mention last week about a most unwelcome hornet that has been moving up the continent, let's hope it wasn't one of those!!!

05.08.08
Scalloped oak x 3
Lesser swallow prominent x 1
Rosy footman x 5
Riband wave x 1
Ruby tiger x 2
Common rustic x 4
Dun bar x 5
Perlella x 2 (Pyralid)
Peppered x 2
Black arches x 1
Willow beauty x 1
Uncertain x 3
Lesser broad bordered underwing x 3
Copper underwing x 1
Shuttle shaped dart x1
Buff footman x 1
Brimstone x 1
Dark arches x 2
The rustic x 1
Prunalis x 1 (Pyralid)
Flame shoulder x 3
Spectacle x 1
Mother of pearl x 2 (Pyralid)
C. falsella x 1 (Pyralid)
Mottled beauty x 1
White point x 1
S. ambigualis x 1 (Pyralid)
Poplar grey x 1
And several wasps!!

I would normally expect to take 2-3 times this amount of species at this time of year which shows just how poor this year is!

Re: your trap Jason, have you looked at a Skinner trap? It really is incredibly easy to make. You need 4 pieces of wood, hinged to fold flat (if required) and a rectangle shape. 2 pieces of perspex which sit in grooves inside the 'box' sloping down and a batton across the middle to hold the electrics. The trick is to get the angle of the perspex and the gap between the batton just right and it needs to be quite small really. You stand the whole thing on a white sheet with egg boxes inside and Bob's yer uncle!! You can see details of this on the Anglian Lepidopterists supplies web site. They are a registered charity and very reasonable. They have excellent thumbnails for id too.

Naturegirl