This is my trap, show me yours! (1 Viewer)

MSA · Jul 30, 2015

(with apologies to the Manics...)

I thought it might be interesting, and perhaps useful/educational, to see other moth'ers set-ups, starting with my own. If anyone can see any flaws, has any suggestions etc please chip in. Pictures show the trap against back wall of garage in "side garden", fenced off to keep the dogs in, and positioned near back door. Garden "proper" behind house also pictured. Photos taken mid-afternoon today.

When showers are possible I put the small white table over the trap; I don't usually trap if rain is more or less certain.

Dom F · Jul 30, 2015

This is my trap site, the light is on a pole approximately where the red dot is. My garden is relatively uninteresting but the surrounding gardens are a mix of native and non-native planting. In addition my garden backs on to an area of wet woodland and melaluca trees.
The trap site is exceedingly well sheltered by the roof over hang and unless the wind is from the wrong direction the light can run in all weathers - the only problem is that occasionally moths are on the overhang itself which is about 4m off the ground and so hanging out of the bedroom window is required to get any form of photo - my only records of Spodoptera picta have been like this hence the very poor shots of this stunning species

Andy Adcock · Jul 31, 2015

I don't have a garden so can't use a conventional trap. I use a 160w blended Tungsten / Mercury bulb positioned at the open window to my porch.

I attend the light until 0200hrs usually and after that I position egg boxes in each corner of the porch and this seems to work quite well.

I've recorded 228 macro species in this way including numerous County rarities including Red-necked Footman, Tissue and Dark Spectacle.

View from the window as requested and I got another new species last night in White-line Dart.

Andy

MSA · Jul 31, 2015

Thanks for sharing, Dom and Andy.

I'd be interested in the view from that window, Andy! Does sound like a good set-up, basically a giant trap albeit with an over-large entrance, but if you're lurking in attendance, escapees are not so much of a problem.

honeym · Aug 3, 2015

I think the record for a giant trap possibly goes to Dewick just 4 miles to the south of West Mersea, near Bradwell, Essex. It's a walk-in trap!
See http://merseawildlife.blogspot.co.uk/2008_08_01_archive.html
Martin

MSA · Aug 3, 2015

honeym said:
I think the record for a giant trap possibly goes to Dewick just 4 miles to the south of West Mersea, near Bradwell, Essex. It's a walk-in trap!
See http://merseawildlife.blogspot.co.uk/2008_08_01_archive.html
Martin

Presumably responsible for Dewick's Plusia?

MSA · Aug 3, 2015

andyadcock said:
View from the window as requested and I got another new species last night in White-line Dart.

Andy

Thanks Andy - I guess the houses are too far away to be bothered by the light, and you've got a good vantage point over a long distance with mixed gardens. I've often wondered if I should raise my trap up a little to try for more "reach" but this risks disturbing neighbours so I've not tried it yet.

honeym · Aug 3, 2015

MSA said:
Presumably responsible for Dewick's Plusia?

One and the same.
Martin

honeym · Aug 3, 2015

Hi
I thought I'd broaden the remit a little and include a photo of one of my moth trap locations - in the mountains of Mallorca.
Hope you like it (I do!).
Martin

renopaul · Aug 3, 2015

Here's my solution to the problem of neighbour disturbance. Inside the Wendy house is a skinner trap with a 125w MV bulb - there are usually as many moths inside the house as in the actual trap itself.

Cheers
Paul

Dom F · Aug 3, 2015

honeym said:
Hi
I thought I'd broaden the remit a little and include a photo of one of my moth trap locations - in the mountains of Mallorca.
Hope you like it (I do!).
Martin

That looks like a rather nice place to trap!

black52bird · Aug 4, 2015

honeym said:
Hi
I thought I'd broaden the remit a little and include a photo of one of my moth trap locations - in the mountains of Mallorca.
Hope you like it (I do!).
Martin

Were you running that off a battery, Martin?
Or is there some unseen building nearby with
and electricity supply?
best
David

honeym · Aug 4, 2015

Hi
I should have perhaps explained a little more. For quite a few years I've been working on the moths of the Balearics and of s'Albufera in particular, usually with two trips a year (spring and autumn). A few years ago I was invited to trap at this location and others, such as the islands of Sa Dragonera and Cabrera. The trap is run off the mains (although I do have access to a generator out there through a project I'm involved with) so there is a building (used part for research and part for school groups) just off to the right. I've attached three more views, another of the trap in situ, one of the area it overlooks and an unexpected arrival (although I knew they were in the area).
Martin

smokenack · Aug 4, 2015

This is mine, stuck behind the shed and next door's garage to minimise nuisance to the neighbours, not that they've ever complained. I sit on the bench in the morning as I sort through the trap and I find plenty of moths behind it as well. Things like Toadflax Brocade that never actually go into the trap will often be found between the slats of the fence. I don't use a sheet as I've never found a really secure way to attach it to the fence and if I put it on the decking under the trap the local foxes crap on it. I also have to brush away all the spider's webs from the fence, bench, shed etc. before putting the trap out.

Andy Adcock · Aug 5, 2015

MSA said:
Thanks Andy - I've often wondered if I should raise my trap up a little to try for more "reach" but this risks disturbing neighbours so I've not tried it yet.

You could try a black light?

Andy

gillian · Aug 18, 2015

We are new to mothing but are addicted! We set our trap in our 'summer house' or now 'the moth shed, as it has become and it has never had so much use! This not only shields some of the light from the neighbours but also catches lots of moths that never quite reach the trap.

In the morning we have a couple of chairs, space for coffee and we are off trying to ID the nights catch!

hampers · Aug 18, 2015

andyadcock said:
You could try a black light?

Andy

Andy, can you expand on this please. I use a 2 x 30w Actinic as my garden is surrounded, there is no way I could use an MV. Is a 'black' lamp an in between solution? I'm relatively new to mothing so know little beyond my own set up from ALS.

We have houses on 2 sides, close and the others which back on are some distance.

Apologies for going of subject to MSA.

Thanks

Phil

Andy Adcock · Aug 18, 2015

Black light is basically ultraviolet, almost invisible to us. Have you seen the nature programmes where they illuminate Scorpions that glow, it's the same as this. They are available and it will; probably change completely the range of moths you catch whilst not bothering the neighbours either.

http://www.leptraps.com/aboutblacklight.htm

Andy

This is my trap, show me yours! (1 Viewer)

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