Moth trap for first timer (2 Viewers)

[socksitis]

Where do I start, thought I would like to give this a go as opposed to viewing what appears on the windows during the evening. But where do I start? What sort of moth trap would I be looking for and where would I look?
All advice greatly appreciated

 

[Angus T]

Where do I start, thought I would like to give this a go as opposed to viewing what appears on the windows during the evening. But where do I start? What sort of moth trap would I be looking for and where would I look?
All advice greatly appreciated

A good place to start is read guides on ALS site and to try balance things a bit, Bioquip also have a guide

 

[Nick Tanner]

you could easily make your own Skinner type trap from any rigid box and two pieces of perspex and then buy the elecrics from Paul Batty, there is a brilliant website called Back Garden Moths, sorry I'm not very good at posting links but if you google it you'll find it, it has forums on equipment, identification, what's flying now, publications etc, there are also loads of threads on birdforum, I've only been mothing since last September and I'm well and truly hooked

Nick

 

[tjsimonsen]

I'm not familiar with the rules in Britain. Are we talking about a killing trap, or one that catches the moths live? The latter will have to be a little more complicated. I have some pretty simple bucket traps. Let me take a few pics of the parts. I'll get back to you later.

Thomas

 

[Surreybirder]

I'm not familiar with the rules in Britain. Are we talking about a killing trap, or one that catches the moths live? The latter will have to be a little more complicated. I have some pretty simple bucket traps. Let me take a few pics of the parts. I'll get back to you later.

Thomas

Hi, Thomas,
Apart from a few government-run scientists virtually all British moth-ers trap live moths. We release them when they have been identified.

Socksitis:
You can buy commercial traps from quite a few sources. They start from under £100 but the good ones tend to be more.
Those with some DIY skills can build their own - though it's usual to buy the electrical parts already assembled from someone like Paul Batty who is a qualified electrician.
Two types of light bulb are the main ones used - MV (mercury vapour) and Actinic, which are less powerful but therefore easier to run off a generator. Actinic run colder and are therefore less inclined to crack if rained upon. There are several different trap designs. Look at the references already quoted in this thread.
Ken

PS It might be worth having a look through some of the URLs for moth'ers in the sticky thread - there are pointers to many different moth-related subjects there.

 

[socksitis]

Have seen this Do you think with the rain guard and used mainly near home that this would do me as a starting point?

Complete Mercury Vapour Moth-trap Set - Ready built, with Trap Box.
for U.K. & European 230 - 250 Volt operation.

 

[Surreybirder]

I had wondered about that one myself at one point. The problem was that I couldn't find anyone who had used it. The opaque lid is not ideal as you cannot see what's inside the trap... sometimes it's a help to spot the rarity so that you can catch it before it flies off. The other comment I had from my county recorder was that the rain sheild looked far too big. He felt that a lot of moths would get stuck on the water sitting on top of it. Having said all that, I'm sure that you would catch moths with it.
Ken

 

[tjsimonsen]

Hi, Thomas,
Apart from a few government-run scientists virtually all British moth-ers trap live moths. We release them when they have been identified.

Thanks for the information. I guess that my bucket traps won't be of much help here. I doubt that they can be converted to an effective live trap.

Thomas

 

[socksitis]

Have now looked at the Moonlander traps amongst others, quite like the look of this with the Gooden Light. Like the less risk with the rain with this one. Only thing is the settling of the moths on the outside of the net I will not be very quick at identifying, there will probably be enough inside for me to be getting on with - any one else use one of these?

 

[Surreybirder]

I've heard mainly bad things about the moonlander. But I cannot give you any references... it's come up on UK moths and possibly on Birdforum before.
Have you considered getting in touch with the Devon Moth Group. They might even lend you a trap so that you can get the feel of what's involved?
http://www.devonmothgroup.org.uk/
Ken

 

[socksitis]

Thankyou Surreybirder that is just what I was looking for but never knew it! Will try and speak to someone there.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Search the web: I bought an mv trap from somewhere at about the cost of an actinic and friend of mine who makes his own said it was only about a fiver more then he paid for the bits. Unfortunately I can't remember where it was from.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Search the web: I bought an mv trap from somewhere at about the cost of an actinic and friend of mine who makes his own said it was only about a fiver more then he paid for the bits. Unfortunately I can't remember where it was from.

Actually thinking about it, it was probably bioquip. Just had a quick look at their site and they're pretty cheap. Unless you're good and making things and enjoy it I'd go for the easy life myself. I certainly caught a lot of stuff in it. It's gone into semi-retirement now as I've moved and the new garden is a - crap and b- situated so it can't be used without disturbing the neighbours.

 

[Bennyboymothman]

Hi
Why buy when you can make for about 15 quid! (excluding the price of bulb and electrics which came to £27)
I just bought a large food container, cut a circular hole in the lid then fitted a funnel then attached some clips to accomodate the cross-member (the bit where the light is fitted too)
Then I sellotaped two struts from the cross-member and then glued a rainshield on to prevent water splashing onto the bulb.
Thats my home Moth Trap and the bulb I use is a 160w MBT.

For field work I stick with the lower wattage 40w Actinic.

 

[socksitis]

Well have done the deal - phoned three moth trap suppliers and had to leave messages as only one phoned back they got my order!

AngLeps were most helpful and something is on it's way in the post! All we need now is time, luck, weather and the ability to identify some of the possible catch!