Questions about traps

[RobS]

I have a basic trap that consists of a MV lamp and a sort of plastic square funnel. Normally I switch my trap on after dusk and then switch it off in the morning when I get up.

1) Am I switching it on at the right time and should I switch it off when I got to bed (say 11pm) or will I miss stuff?

2) The moths normally sit on the sides of the plastic funnel or the outside of the hardboard box thing that it all sits in. Would I get more specimens if I sat the trap on egg boxes (or would it make no difference)?

Thanks

Rob S

[nutmeg]

11pm is a bit early to switch off at this time of year. I tend to like to stay up with my trap so only run it on nights when I'm able to stay up until gone midnight - last night it was about 1.30am when I switched off. I'd rather do that than leave it on and then have to get up incredibly early to switch off and look at what is on the outside of the trap before the moths scarper or the birds get them! I don't function very well with dawn starts to the day

I pile egg boxes around the outside of the trap - they give the moths somewhere to shelter.

Other people I know do leave their traps on all night and don't go to them until morning.

Try different things and see what works best for you!

[Moonmoth]

Hi Yes I too run mine all night and turn off in morning . I put lots of egg boxes inside and some around the base . I find that those that havent gone in will retreat to the boxes and so hide from those pesky birds and bats that like to lurk hungrily around my trap ! Mostly I wake up early ,so save the ones that are exposed on the sheet but otherwise the birds get a breakfast treat . Also its worth looking around at nearby vegetation as Hawk moths in particular often hang around but dont go in .

[RobS]

I've found Poplar HMs around though actually had one in the trap this week.

Stupid question but with the egg boxes what do you do with them? Cut them in half and invert or what? Also when you pick them up don't they all fly off?

Rob S

[nutmeg]

If I can get hold of the larger egg trays I use those and sometimes cut them in half so they're easier to move out of the trap when I go through it. If using the small boxes I cut the lid off and just use the bottom bit.

Usually as long as I don't knock the egg boxes by accident the moths tend to stay put. The flightier carpets sometimes disappear though.

[RobS]

Might have to give that a whirl then. Just looked and nothing except some 'wave' in there at the moment and some irritating shield bugs flying around.

Rob S

[Adam Cheeseman]

Hi Rob,

If you need to stay with the trap then the longer the better. In my opinion most of the larger moth species don't get going until nearly midnight in decent numbers. Don't forget that many species are late risers too and appear to have different flight times throughout the night. If you can leave the trap on all night you will get a much better catch, and don't turn the light off until you are ready to start emptying the trap otherwise you will start losing stuff once the bulb goes out. I live in suburban north Surrey and haven't had a complaint from neighbours in 5 years about my MV trap. I do ensure that it doesn't shine directly on windows of those immediately adjacent to me as best I can.

I find a mix of egg boxes and crumpled newspaper works best as different species use different roosts in the box. Noctuids tend to prefer the paper whilst most of the other macro families prefer the boxes. They also prefer the bottom section of egg boxes (the bit the eggs sit in).


Cheers,

Adam