Moth ID Book

[SteveHL]

Can someone recommend a good moth ID book please. I'd like one that I can grow into as I'm a complete novice at the moment.
I'd also like some advice on a good moth trap preferably one thats mobile as I would like to use it both at home and down at the local lake on the edge of the meadow.
At about what time of year do the stop flying?

I know questions..questions
Thanks for your help.
Regds
SteveHL

[aeshna5]

My favourite for macromoths is Fieldguide to Moths of GB + Ireland by Waring + Townsend with Lewington's excellent plates of moths in life position.

Other classic is Skinner's Moths of British Isles but plates are of set specimens, so not as useful for beginners, but text is excellent.

[John]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

My favourite for macromoths is Fieldguide to Moths of GB + Ireland by Waring + Townsend with Lewington's excellent plates of moths in life position.

Other classic is Skinner's Moths of British Isles but plates are of set specimens, so not as useful for beginners, but text is excellent.

As a beginner (which is where I am) I would whole heartedly go with aeshna5's first recommendation. The latter I think is for those that have grasped more than the basics of Mothing.

Regarding when they stop flying. They don't. There is always a nucleas of moths (not many) such as the Winter Moth that can be caught in the Winter.

John

[jimfoxy]

For trap variety, have a look at http://www.angleps.btinternet.co.uk.

For portability, the easiest option is a Heath trap with, say a 25Ahr 12V lead acid gel (safer than wet) battery and the appropriate electronics and tube. You can go for a lower capacity battery if you want (lighter to carry), but the battery won't last you as many years as a higher capacity one. I use a 6W tube in my Heath trap which has no chance of being blown over.

The other option, stepping up a level of inconvenience, is a portable generator to provide the mains voltage you need to run the mercury vapour based traps.

I'd start with the Heath type trap first. Most people use egg trays or boxes inside the traps for the moths to settle on. Many traps are made DIY by those with the time and skill.

For books, I would get Skinner and Waring if you have a thick enough wallet. Some moths are shown poorly in Waring, and some poorly in Skinner. Otherwise, I agree with the above.

[Nicola Main]

I think Collins 'Complete British Insects' by Michael Chinery is a really good book for moths. Don't be put off by it not being solely on moths (moths are covered in about half of the book) and the photographs in it are excellent and it also has a handy section on caterpillars. The text is rather brief however.

There is also the Reader's Digest 'Field Guide to Butterflies and other Insects of Britain' which I have found extremely useful and has excellent illustrations and text. Each page covers an individual species unlike my other recommendation above which has several on one page. It has illustrations of all stages of life-cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and then the adult moth.

Both of these books are excellent. Although if you'd prefer a book which covers just moths I'd recommend the 'Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland' which has already been recommended before me.

Below are links to the my recommendations ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Comp...e=UTF8&s=books

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Butterflies-...e=UTF8&s=books

[Stewy]

I've got the Skinner book but i'm finding it very difficult to ID the Moths (being a novice) by the way they are displayed.

I've asked the girlfriend for the Waring book for crimbo

[SteveHL]

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'll spend some time on the net looking at traps.
Regards
SteveHL

[Owl-Light]

There are some really good and detailed feild guides available but they're fairly expensive. I find The Collins Complete British Insects book is really good for someone starting out. It has a massive section on British Moths with very clear photographs of each one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Comp...467058?ie=UTF8

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by Sheryl LaBouchardiere

There are some really good and detailed feild guides available but they're fairly expensive. I find The Collins Complete British Insects book is really good for someone starting out. It has a massive section on British Moths with very clear photographs of each one.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Comp...467058?ie=UTF8

I recently bought that one myself and it also has a large selection of caterpillars,best book I have yet

[DL]

Traps here-

http://www.alanaecology.com/acatalog/Moths.html

and here-

http://www.angleps.btinternet.co.uk/product.htm#sk

For a guide book I also use Waring/Townsend/Lewington BWP