Photographing moths

djeyewater · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 04:58 PM

Can anyone give me some advice on how to find moths to photograph?

I've tried looking for them in long grass / underneath leaves in the daytime, but not had much luck. I see them in the evening, but then they're flying about and if they stop, they'll fly off again when I get near them.

I've read about making a moth trap, but can you take the moths out of the cardboard egg boxes and put them somewhere more photogenic (like on a leaf) to take their photo, or will they fly away if you try to move them?

Thanks

Dave

deer boy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 06:00 PM

Hi Dave try looking near security lights ect,first thing in the morning, i've seen moths near our lights.
Usually moths are quite sleepy in the morning

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 06:05 PM

Dave,

at night, try hanging a white sheet over a clothes line or similar and place a strong light behind it. The moths will land on the sheet.

GuyF · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 06:58 PM

I'd definetely recommend a moth trap, I've been using one for the last year and it's allowed me to get lots of photos of some nice colourful species.
Different moths react differently to being disturbed by day, I always find that most geometer moths e.g. Carpets, Waves, Pugs etc are very easily disturbed, if you try to manouver them onto a more photogenic perch they will flutter off before you have a chance. However many moths are much more confiding, and this includes some of our most spectacular species such as the Hawkmoths and Tiger Moths. I've found that as long as you do it very gently and carefully you can quite easily move these from an eggbox onto a twig or leaf or whatever else you'd like to photograph them on.

Some people refrigerate the moths that they catch as a way of calming them down and making them easier to photograph, I'm sure this would be very helpful with the geometers and other flighty species, but I've found that quite a few species are calm enough to be moved around without being refrigerated.
Guy

Andy Warne · #5 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 07:46 AM

I'd second everything Guy has said, building a moth trap is definitely the way to go. Most of the moths can be moved and photographed if treated gently, some species are more flighty but with patience you can normally get them to settle on to something.

Lance Morgan · #6 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 08:15 AM

If you find or trap a moth you want to photograph you can calm them down by keeping them cool in the fridge for an hour. Don't forget them though

goosey · #7 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 08:26 AM

Hi Dave,
I have been photographing moths which come to the garden for a couple of years now. I don´t trap but use a ladder (to get to the top of the Buddleia where most moths will be if not in the lavender) and a torch and lots of patience. I use my point and shoot on night mode and off I go! Dusk seems a great time as they start to come in then, and there are always the day flyers I have found most the micros during the day. This has been quite successful for me and I have been able to photograph about 60 different (not many compared to trappers, but my garden is very small) species this year, to different degrees of quality. There are a lot of disadvantage, height, moths moving and the wind blowing the plants around, but it is really satisfying. I still find moths a lot more accommodating and much easier to photograph than butterflies. I agree with everything said about the difficulty with geometers.
Be patient and don´t give up, you will really enjoy it. If your pictures are just intended for yourself as a reference, having them in flight or on food plants prove much more attractive. Good luck and enjoy

The Black Rabbit · #8 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 10:49 AM

G'day Dave.
All good advice for you above, 'though I personally regard security lights as the work of the devil mesel, pointless and ridiculous (rather like car alarms and umbrellas - straight into room 101 with 'em all), but thats rather a weird, like I said, personal opinion.
I'll leave a light on occasionally over night, with the window open, and see what has "bounced" in when I get up the next morning. A sympathetic girlfriend helps in that respect also!!!
I've had some wonderful moths like that, not to mention other interesting things...
The bigger moths seem more docile in the morning to me, rather than the smaller ones.
I'm glad you're interested in taking aesthetically pleasing photo's of your moths - nothing duller in my opinion (again!) than an ID shot of a moth on a blummin eggbox!

Good luck!
TBR.