Emptying a moth trap for identification

[Davidrf]

Patience please - a complete beginner! If this is the wrong forum for a very basic question, please say.

I have just purchased Heath trap but am finding it very difficult to get specimens out for identification (partly due to poor eyesight!) It is obvious a lot of you guys just take a glance and ID specimens easily, but for us beginners it takes a few minutes, close inspection and leafing through a book to get there. What method do people use yo transfer moths from the bottom of the trap to a jar or plastic box for closer examination? My trapped moths end up flying off in many cases!

Any tips gratefully received.

David

[nutmeg]

Hi David,

I haven't used a Heath trap and so am not sure how accessible it is for emptying, but this is what I do for my Robinson:

I usually pot and identify quite a few of the moths as they arrive, especially if they settle on the sheet or on the outside of the trap rather than fly straight in. When I finish trapping for the night I switch the bulb off then place something like a fine net curtain over the trap (my butterfly net fits perfectly over the opening). I then leave until morning (I'm more awake and the moths tend to be more settled - although some never seem to stay still for long).

When going through the trap I keep the net over the opening and then carefully take out each egg box (don't knock or the more skittish ones will disappear!). I replace the net over the opening of the trap so those remaining inside stay there. If I recognise the moths, I write them down as I go - but if there's something there that I like the look of/don't immediately recognise then I photograph it in situ, then put in a specimen pot by placing the pot over it, encouraging the moth to move into it, then pop the lid on. Examining photographs at leisure can be a lot easier than trying to get a close look at an active moth!

I get a few that escape, but I do the trap emptying in the conservatory so they tend to fly to the windows and can be retrieved.

After I examine the egg boxes I pop them in a big storage box, put in a cool place, and then release later when it's dark.

[Davidrf]

Many thanks Nutmeg, useful advice. I sort of guessed I would have to put a net over the trap box (which is just a plastic box once the cone and light have been removed, but I haven't got one to hand (or any old net curtains - we live way out in the country and the only thing which peers in the windows is bats and foxes). I think my mistake has been using too large a plastic container to "pot" them, disturbing everything else that is in the box. We live and learn!

David (Shropshire)