Traps to study moths Magic or cruelty

[willing to learn]

Whats the facts on these, traps where the moths are attracted to bright light and then trapped and collected. Have they any use for amature lepidopterists. Are they Magic or cruelty. How many specimens end up damaged or dead.
Regards
Colin

[NickCantle]

Well of course they are of use to Lepidopterists, especially amateur ones. How else are numbers to be assessed and moths to be recorded? To add, I'm sure that anyone with enough interest in a moth's welfare (as they wouldn't be recording otherwise) would make sure that their trapping methods are flawless as to ensure that the moths stay safe and are released back safely.

[Jason Green]

Good question, Colin. I personally think they are essential in logging species distribution, and in particular new species to an area/the UK. Without traps I think we'd know a a lot less about them.

However, I think that there has to be some flexibility on the number of consecutive nights they are run for. Some moths only live for a short while and have to feed and mate, but seeing these lights they are uncontrollably attracted to them and have to enter them. Therefor I think they should be operated with this in mind and run on alternate nights/some breaks, etc as I suspect is usually done already.

Some moths do die, but I doubt down to being trapped for a few hours - most likely no more die in traps than they do out of them.

Some moths are impossible to ID from patterns, and so are dissected. I think this is usually done infrequently too, and should be done in moderation - again, I believe it is done for logging distribution.

Just to explain the trapping thing, Colin - the trap is open and so they can escape, though it has a special opening to make escape slightly harder. If the only material used in the trap is plastic they tend to come-and-go, but if recycled egg boxes are used to line it they choose to stay, though I'm not too sure why.

I'll be interested in other thoughts on these traps, too.

[willing to learn]

Thankyou Nick and Jason for you input. The reason I asked, I was reading on the net the decline of species of moths in the UK. And trapping came into question, fatigue and death not quite sure how that works, missed matings which Jason has broached and explained.To be honest I was setting my own trap. And my plan was to drag a thread out, and come up with quotes from the net and written articles, with a touch of wit and sarcasm to get a point across unrelated.
I know nothing of moths, but my unguided mission to prove a point, has found me interested in the plight of moths and I am willing to learn from those that do. So to cut it short I will not stir a hornets nest up on something I know nothing about. Thanks for the input both.
So my aim is now to listen and learn.
Regards
Colin

[Dutchess]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

Thankyou Nick and Jason for you input. The reason I asked, I was reading on the net the decline of species of moths in the UK. And trapping came into question, fatigue and death not quite sure how that works, missed matings which Jason has broached and explained.To be honest I was setting my own trap. And my plan was to drag a thread out, and come up with quotes from the net and written articles, with a touch of wit and sarcasm to get a point across unrelated.
I know nothing of moths, but my unguided mission to prove a point, has found me interested in the plight of moths and I am willing to learn from those that do. So to cut it short I will not stir a hornets nest up on something I know nothing about. Thanks for the input both.
So my aim is now to listen and learn.
Regards
Colin

Well, to tell you the truth I had suspected that was going on when I first read it, Colin Cool answers from both Nick and Jason have encouraged you further and now we have another moth-er in our midst

On the subject of traps, I am intending on using my bathroom window to start off with. But I guess the limited risk with using moth traps applies to this method also.

Once we become well and truly addicted though, no doubt we shall find other ways and means. For instance, after browsing the most excellent "British Moths" by Chris Manley, I was surprised to learn that not all moths are attracted to light in this way...

Best!

D.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by willing to learn

The reason I asked, I was reading on the net the decline of species of moths in the UK. And trapping came into question, fatigue and death not quite sure how that works, missed matings which Jason has broached and explained.To be honest I was setting my own trap. And my plan was to drag a thread out, and come up with quotes from the net and written articles, with a touch of wit and sarcasm to get a point across unrelated.

In my opinion moth traps have a very small affect on any given moth population, they are not being carried out in large numbers by large amounts of people. Its more of a specialist hobby so would not cause national declines, it can have implectations if exessively done in a very local sense. The key factors are wet summers, fluctuating spring temperatures as well as wet winters. All of these climatic factors have a huge affect on moths causing higher rates of mortality. Another key negative factor is habitat destruction, moths are very suseptible to even minor habitat change such as ploughing or vegetation cutting. I predict due to the last two poor summers and very cold winter we will have a poor year for insects overall this year.

[earthdragon64]

I've only been using a moth trap for about 18 months, I use a Skinner trap with a mercury vapour bulb.

I set the trap out no more than once a week, probably really only twice a month with weather and hubby's work commitments. I haven't started this year yet as the weather has still been too cold, I haven't seen a moth yet.

Moths can fall short of the trap and land in the grass, so being careful where you walk on the approach can help avoid squashing moths. Another approach is to put a white sheet under the trap so the moths that fall short can be easily seen.

I also usually put any moths outside the trap into pots, switch off and remove the light, cover the trap with an old towel and move it into the garage before it gets light. Otherwise any shortfalls or moths climbing out of the trap can be eaten by birds.

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by Dutchess

Well, to tell you the truth I had suspected that was going on when I first read it, Colin Cool answers from both Nick and Jason have encouraged you further and now we have another moth-er in our midst

On the subject of traps, I am intending on using my bathroom window to start off with. But I guess the limited risk with using moth traps applies to this method also.

Once we become well and truly addicted though, no doubt we shall find other ways and means. For instance, after browsing the most excellent "British Moths" by Chris Manley, I was surprised to learn that not all moths are attracted to light in this way...

Best!

D.

Not sure if I will ever become moth-er but I should make an effort to get a basic knowledge, it has caught my interest, might even get to photograph one or two Interesting and well explain posts from dogghound and earthdagon.
Regards
Colin

[Jason Green]

Good to hear Colin, good luck

[Ferret]

With the massive amount of light pollution from street lights, flood lit buildings, indoor and outdoor house lights, shop displays left on overnight etc I would be very surprised if the odd moth trap is going to have any massive effect on Moth populations unless it is used every night at very local specialized habitats. And as already stated the amount of useful information collected on population trends would I think far out way any slight damage done, in fact would we even know the extent to which Moth numbers have dropped without this and other forms of trapping?

Ferret