My first moth-trapping session.

Wild-Woman · #1 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 08:46 PM

I'm so excited. I'm running a moth trap at the moment, my first go! It's a trap on loan so that I can learn. I keep looking out and there's activity around the light so I'm hopeful for the morning! I'll keep you posted! Wish me luck!

GuyF · #2 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 08:57 PM

Good luck with your moth-trapping,
I decided to buy a trap back in March and it's been a great thing to have, I've seen so many new things.

I ran the trap yesterday and caught a Pine Hawkmoth, so if you're lucky you may get one of those. They're really spectacular moths!
Guy

Deer Stalker · #3 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 09:03 PM

Good luck Julie

You'll soon be hooked too....

nutmeg · #4 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 09:16 PM

I'm planning to have a go at trapping this year. At the moment I'm relying on the porch light - which hasn't yielded much... but it's exciting when something does turn up!

Good luck Wild-Woman

PMG · #5 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 09:17 PM

Good Luck Julie - you'll soon be looking like the rest of us 'trappers' . . . dark rings around the eyes . . .comatose during the day (virtually impossible to rouse out of bed to attend work) and as the day progresses and darkness approaches an air of nervous expectation!!!!

I ran mine at the caravan site on my last days off and a got myself a new record 'The Streamer' I brought it into the van to photograph it - as soon as I took the top of the specimen pot it was off to the roof and I thought no worries everything is closed . . . but it seems there is a slight gap in the roof light even when it is closed and thro that it squeezed!

I retrapped it again the following night and fumbled the potting up process - it was last seen speeding thro the darkness and blackthorn never to be seen again. . .

So Good Luck!!

Pauline

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMG

Good Luck Julie - you'll soon be looking like the rest of us 'trappers' . . . dark rings around the eyes . . .comatose during the day (virtually impossible to rouse out of bed to attend work) and as the day progresses and darkness approaches an air of nervous expectation!!!!

I ran mine at the caravan site on my last days off and a got myself a new record 'The Streamer' I brought it into the van to photograph it - as soon as I took the top of the specimen pot it was off to the roof and I thought no worries everything is closed . . . but it seems there is a slight gap in the roof light even when it is closed and thro that it squeezed!

I retrapped it again the following night and fumbled the potting up process - it was last seen speeding thro the darkness and blackthorn never to be seen again. . .

So Good Luck!!

Pauline

Well if it travels a bit south, perhaps it'll end up in mine tonight! It's all very exciting. I'm like a kid at the moment. I keep having to go out in the garden for a look!

Wild-Woman · #7 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 08:22 AM

I was up at 6.30 this morning to see what moths had been lured in last night.
I had 6 moths and 1 wasp in total. Not bad I suppose.
There were 4 species so I've put the best ones of the 4 up for you to see.
Apologies if I have got any of the id's wrong (probably have, knowing me) but hope you can forgive me as it's my first go.
1-Mouse Moth-Amphipyra tragopoginis

2-Twin spotted Quaker-Orthosia munda

3-Earl Grey-Xylocampa areola

4-Hebrew Character-Orthosia gothica

Thank you for looking at them!

goosey · #8 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 09:09 AM

Im really pleased for you Julie, 6 in one go can't be bad. Last summer was the first time I took any interest in moths. I don't have a trap and is one of these strange people who run around the garden in their pj's with a torch, camera and stool in the midle of the night to get my photo's. I like the look of your mouse moth - I have never seen one in my garden.
Good luck the next time you use it - keep us posted!

GuyF · #9 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 10:04 AM

I think that you've got the bottom two correct but I think the first might be a Muslin Moth, or something similar, and the second I think is another Hebrew Character, as they are very variable in colours. Not a bad catch, it's more than I got when I first tried!
Guy

Wild-Woman · #10 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyF

I think that you've got the bottom two correct but I think the first might be a Muslin Moth, or something similar, and the second I think is another Hebrew Character, as they are very variable in colours. Not a bad catch, it's more than I got when I first tried!
Guy

Thank you Guy! Yes, I think you're right about the Muslin Moth. It's not easy peasey is it? So that would be a male then?

2/4...oh well 50% is more than I hoped for!