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21-04-2007, 07:46 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | My first moth-trapping session.
I'm so excited. I'm running a moth trap at the moment, my first go! It's a trap on loan so that I can learn. I keep looking out and there's activity around the light so I'm hopeful for the morning! I'll keep you posted! Wish me luck! 
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
21-04-2007, 07:57 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,352
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Good luck with your moth-trapping,
I decided to buy a trap back in March and it's been a great thing to have, I've seen so many new things.
I ran the trap yesterday and caught a Pine Hawkmoth, so if you're lucky you may get one of those. They're really spectacular moths!
Guy |
21-04-2007, 08:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 2,946
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Good luck Julie 
You'll soon be hooked too.... |
21-04-2007, 08:16 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 347
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
I'm planning to have a go at trapping this year. At the moment I'm relying on the porch light - which hasn't yielded much... but it's exciting when something does turn up!
Good luck Wild-Woman |
21-04-2007, 08:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Leigh, Lancashire
Posts: 1,512
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Good Luck Julie - you'll soon be looking like the rest of us 'trappers' . . . dark rings around the eyes . . .comatose during the day (virtually impossible to rouse out of bed to attend work) and as the day progresses and darkness approaches an air of nervous expectation!!!!
I ran mine at the caravan site on my last days off and a got myself a new record 'The Streamer' I brought it into the van to photograph it - as soon as I took the top of the specimen pot it was off to the roof and I thought no worries everything is closed . . . but it seems there is a slight gap in the roof light even when it is closed and thro that it squeezed!  I retrapped it again the following night and fumbled the potting up process - it was last seen speeding thro the darkness and blackthorn never to be seen again. . . 
So Good Luck!!
Pauline |
21-04-2007, 08:28 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PMG  Good Luck Julie - you'll soon be looking like the rest of us 'trappers' . . . dark rings around the eyes . . .comatose during the day (virtually impossible to rouse out of bed to attend work) and as the day progresses and darkness approaches an air of nervous expectation!!!!
I ran mine at the caravan site on my last days off and a got myself a new record 'The Streamer' I brought it into the van to photograph it - as soon as I took the top of the specimen pot it was off to the roof and I thought no worries everything is closed . . . but it seems there is a slight gap in the roof light even when it is closed and thro that it squeezed! I retrapped it again the following night and fumbled the potting up process - it was last seen speeding thro the darkness and blackthorn never to be seen again. . .
So Good Luck!!
Pauline | Well if it travels a bit south, perhaps it'll end up in mine tonight! It's all very exciting. I'm like a kid at the moment. I keep having to go out in the garden for a look!
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
22-04-2007, 07:22 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
I was up at 6.30 this morning to see what moths had been lured in last night.
I had 6 moths and 1 wasp in total. Not bad I suppose.
There were 4 species so I've put the best ones of the 4 up for you to see.
Apologies if I have got any of the id's wrong (probably have, knowing me) but hope you can forgive me as it's my first go.
1-Mouse Moth-Amphipyra tragopoginis 
2-Twin spotted Quaker-Orthosia munda 
3-Earl Grey-Xylocampa areola 
4-Hebrew Character-Orthosia gothica 
Thank you for looking at them!
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
22-04-2007, 08:09 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ijmuiden, Holland
Posts: 1,932
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Im really pleased for you Julie, 6 in one go can't be bad. Last summer was the first time I took any interest in moths. I don't have a trap and is one of these strange people who run around the garden in their pj's with a torch, camera and stool in the midle of the night to get my photo's. I like the look of your mouse moth - I have never seen one in my garden.
Good luck the next time you use it - keep us posted! |
22-04-2007, 09:04 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,352
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
I think that you've got the bottom two correct but I think the first might be a Muslin Moth, or something similar, and the second I think is another Hebrew Character, as they are very variable in colours. Not a bad catch, it's more than I got when I first tried!
Guy |
22-04-2007, 09:17 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyF I think that you've got the bottom two correct but I think the first might be a Muslin Moth, or something similar, and the second I think is another Hebrew Character, as they are very variable in colours. Not a bad catch, it's more than I got when I first tried!
Guy | Thank you Guy! Yes, I think you're right about the Muslin Moth. It's not easy peasey is it? So that would be a male then?
2/4...oh well 50% is more than I hoped for!
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
22-04-2007, 11:15 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 2,946
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Nice catch Julie
I rekon:
1.Muslin Moth
2.Hebrew Character
3.Early Grey
4.Hebrew Character |
22-04-2007, 12:43 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Berkshire
Posts: 1,620
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
This sounds really interesting. No wonder you are excited about it.
We see lots of moths on the windows at night and sometimes they are still there next day so that I can photograph them, but mostly not. I would love to give this a try.
Jenny |
22-04-2007, 01:06 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lancashire.
Posts: 1,011
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
After seeing your photos and results from the moth trap I have put a moth trap on my wish list.
Carol.
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22-04-2007, 02:31 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 3,545
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Nice catch Jules.
We were out last night on my local reserve, it was a bit quiet but we still managed a total of 14 species with a total count of 23 moths caught, not too bad for this time of year but we expected more!! |
22-04-2007, 05:13 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,404
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Congrats WW I have tried twice now and only got insects the size of full-stops
Attempt 1; 18watt eco-lamp my neighbours asked me to shut it off his wife was not well
Attempt 2; 40 watt gaz lamp 4hours gave up too many bats about much more interesting
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22-04-2007, 05:33 PM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightshade Congrats WW I have tried twice now and only got insects the size of full-stops
Attempt 1; 18watt eco-lamp my neighbours asked me to shut it off his wife was not well
Attempt 2; 40 watt gaz lamp 4hours gave up too many bats about much more interesting | Well I'm going to have another shot at it next weekend. The neighbours weren't bothered one side and Victor Meldrew the other side is away. Hoorah!
I was a bit surprised to see the wasp in there though.
Good fun and it makes you hone your id skills when all the moths are grey! Mind you, I still got half of them wrong. 
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
22-04-2007, 07:36 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kent
Posts: 1,515
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Well done Jules and 2 out of 4 ain't bad for a beginner,, thats 2 more then i would of got....
Oh and don't WAB members get everywhere i was just looking at Moth traps for beginners and was on one and looking at reviews Low and behold was a review from our very own ' Oscar2006'
Any one suggest a good trap for a complete Novice? ( not expensive please )
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23-04-2007, 06:43 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Leigh, Lancashire
Posts: 1,512
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
I got mine from Paul Batty - a very nice man (a very very nice man and a qualified electrician) at Sheffield. His website is at Entomological Livestock Group or just type in Paul Batty and look down the list till you see Mercury Vapour mentioned!
My boss brought a Brindled Beauty into work today from his trap last night - only the 4th record for Lancashire apprently . . . I live in hopes - it was an absolute cracker!!
Pauline
Wasps are common in the trap - so are black beetles of all kinds and even more interestingly orange and black burying beetles and some very interesting icheneumon-type stuff which can be photographed and thought about as the season goes on!!
Last edited by PMG; 23-04-2007 at 06:47 PM.
Reason: Left something out
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24-04-2007, 08:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Sussex - hurrah!
Posts: 1,512
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
After finding several moths around during the day I finally got motivated enough to dig through the boxes in the garage and unearth the moth trap tonight. It is running now. I haven't used it since last year and will be interested to see what turns up.
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24-04-2007, 09:30 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Sussex - hurrah!
Posts: 1,512
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
It's a great night for mothing
My trap is so busy it has as many moths in as it would have had on a summer's night in London last year.
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25-04-2007, 12:08 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Susie It's a great night for mothing
My trap is so busy it has as many moths in as it would have had on a summer's night in London last year. | Do let us know what you got Susie. It'll help me learn too!
Good luck.
jules
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
26-04-2007, 08:25 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: West Sussex - hurrah!
Posts: 1,512
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Here is one of them, Jules.
This lovely fluffy chap is called a Pale Tussock, Calliteara pudibunda (I hope!).
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People should smile more :)
Last edited by FungiJohn; 01-05-2007 at 02:17 PM.
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26-04-2007, 08:29 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Milton, Hampshire
Posts: 2,946
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Pale Tussock. Thats the one Susie.
Nice catch. |
27-04-2007, 04:36 AM
| | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 6,075
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Susie
Here is one of them, Jules.
This lovely fluffy chap is called a Pale Tussock, Calliteara pudibunda (I hope!). | What a great moth. Love the furry leggings!
Going to have another session Saturday (when we eventually get back from Blackburn, after travelling up there by coach to see Charlton play and hopefully not get religated).
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p
Last edited by FungiJohn; 01-05-2007 at 02:18 PM.
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28-04-2007, 01:25 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Leigh, Lancashire
Posts: 1,512
| | | Re: My first moth-trapping session.
I had three sessions at the caravan on our days off (able to leave the trap out all night and not worry about it). The first night tho it began raining (24th) and I brought it in at 10.30pm as moths were getting trapped in surrounding wet surfaces and I thought it unfair to lure them to their deaths . . . we had some sort of thorn which managed to fly off, a pine beauty and two yellow-horned.
The following two nights were clear and cool but still produced things: a scarce prominent (new tick for me!) barred umber, great prominent, iron prominent, common quaker, powdered quaker, a gorgeous herald! pale tussock, purple thorn, lesser swallow prominent, lunar marbled brown and barred tooth-striped (speciality of Cumbria limestone areas!) and a couple of pugs . . . but days off arn't long enough to identify pugs yet - ok I'm ducking my responsibilities I admit it!!
Pauline | |
