Your moth trap set up (1 Viewer)

[Charlie Sargent]

A general question. If you guys were just starting like me. What type of trap would you have and what type of light source.

Charlie

 

[Dmacaskill]

A general question. If you guys were just starting like me. What type of trap would you have and what type of light source.

Charlie

Hi Charlie,
i just started trapping last month,i live in a rural location and wanted to record the moths in my garden,so i went for the skinner trap with a 125w MV bulb,that is run off the mains.i would definately recomend this set up . i have had some great catches when the weather is good,once you get started you will be hooked it`s such a buzz checking the trap to see what you have..

Dean..

 

[Adam M]

Hi Charlie,
i just started trapping last month,i live in a rural location and wanted to record the moths in my garden,so i went for the skinner trap with a 125w MV bulb,that is run off the mains.i would definately recomend this set up . i have had some great catches when the weather is good,once you get started you will be hooked it`s such a buzz checking the trap to see what you have..

Dean..

Agreed, and I have the same set up. My dad brought an outdoor JCB extension cable sometime ago, we just run that from the sheds electrics and plug the control box and everything into that.

Might have to see if we can arrange something Charlie, either me bringing the trap round your house one night, or you nipping round here sometime. Either way we could either sit with the trap for a couple of hours and see what we get, or set it up and come back in the morning. I am sure Neil would be interested as well, plus his photography skills might come in handy. Might be best to send a PM if you are interested.

Adam

 

[ben_lewis]

My trap looks a little like this-(see pic)
It is a pretty basic idea of a Robinson trap and on a good night it does very well, added together with its very light weight and carry handles its done me proud!

My one slight niggle with it is that I would really like to have a see through collar instead of the metal one I currently have. I have been looking high and low for pretty much the last year but cannot find/think of anything I can use, I don't seem to be able to find any 1mm polycarbonate anywhere and am stuck for alternatives. Please please help me, its beginning to get annoying now!

Thanks

 

[rob lee]

[QUOTEPlease please help me, its beginning to get annoying now!
Thanks[/QUOTE]
Remember my offer from earlier in the year? Another alternative would be to buy a collar from the Watdon website.

 

[rob lee]

Another idea would be to have a flat top. My trap is similar to yours but my top is made from 8mm ply with holes cut out & a thin sheet of plastic stuck over the top, obviously it wont shed rainwater but thats never been a major problem for me. Another shot added of it in action.

 

[ben_lewis]

Thanks Rob, your offer was very tempting too. I may well take you up on it now if it still stands??...That was for 1mm polycarbonate wasn't it?
Good call with the flat top, as you say its not so good for the rain but like many I don't tend to run the trap if rain is predicted, although showers can spring up!

Thanks for getting back to me,

Ben

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Hi Charlie,
i just started trapping last month,i live in a rural location and wanted to record the moths in my garden,so i went for the skinner trap with a 125w MV bulb,that is run off the mains.i would definately recomend this set up . i have had some great catches when the weather is good,once you get started you will be hooked it`s such a buzz checking the trap to see what you have..

Dean..

Hi Dean

Nice to see you are enjoying it. I will probably start to make the trap this week. Still not sure wHether a Skinner or Robinson. I don't suppose it really matters as long as works. I will let you know how I get on, and if I am buzzing as well.

Charlie

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Agreed, and I have the same set up. My dad brought an outdoor JCB extension cable sometime ago, we just run that from the sheds electrics and plug the control box and everything into that.

Might have to see if we can arrange something Charlie, either me bringing the trap round your house one night, or you nipping round here sometime. Either way we could either sit with the trap for a couple of hours and see what we get, or set it up and come back in the morning. I am sure Neil would be interested as well, plus his photography skills might come in handy. Might be best to send a PM if you are interested.

Adam

Hi Adam

Thanks for the info. Your proposal sounds good to me. I will PM you.

Charlie

 

[Charlie Sargent]

My trap looks a little like this-(see pic)
It is a pretty basic idea of a Robinson trap and on a good night it does very well, added together with its very light weight and carry handles its done me proud!

My one slight niggle with it is that I would really like to have a see through collar instead of the metal one I currently have. I have been looking high and low for pretty much the last year but cannot find/think of anything I can use, I don't seem to be able to find any 1mm polycarbonate anywhere and am stuck for alternatives. Please please help me, its beginning to get annoying now!

Thanks

Hi Ben

I was in Homebase on saturday and they sell 2mm thick perspex. Would this be too thick to bend to the profile.
I am sure you have seen the attached site. At the bottom of the green page is a link to an Excel spreadsheet which shows you how to measure a flat piece of plastic for cutting to form the curved shape. It is self explanatory.
http://www.tcdigitalphotography.co.uk/diy_robinson_trap.htm

Charlie

 

[ben_lewis]

Hi Charlie,

Unfortunately 2mm is too thick to bend it needs to be between .75 and 1.5mm I think but thanks for the link. I actually saw this website which gave me the inspiration to make the Robinson trap, but had forgotten that it had the excel spreadsheet to work out the dimensions for the collar. I shall use that if I manage to find the polycarbonate.
Thanks

 

[SveinB]

When I was making my Robinson traps I had some real problems finding clear plastic for the cone. I finally went to a printing store here, and they had just what I needed, sheets of clear 1,5 mm plastic. They used them to cover large posters on walls and so- easy to cut with a tin snips, and perfect for the Robinson traps.

I have a thread here http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=95708 telling a bit more about how I have made my traps.

Svein B

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi Charlie,

Unfortunately 2mm is too thick to bend it needs to be between .75 and 1.5mm I think but thanks for the link. I actually saw this website which gave me the inspiration to make the Robinson trap, but had forgotten that it had the excel spreadsheet to work out the dimensions for the collar. I shall use that if I manage to find the polycarbonate.
Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-mm-Clear-PO...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5887a82edd

 

[Charlie Sargent]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-mm-Clear-PO...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5887a82edd

Thanks Ken.
I have checked ebay this morning and there are bigger sheets available as well.

Another thought was the plastic cones that a vet puts around the dogs neck to stop it licking a wound. It would have to be a very large size but they must be available. Checked on ebay this morning and the ones I could find were Hong Kong and Canada only.

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Elizabethen surgical dog collars

Check this link out.

A phone call to the supplier may prove worthwhile.
http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Dog-Boots-and-Surgical-Collars/products/21/

Charlie

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks Ken.
I have checked ebay this morning and there are bigger sheets available as well.

Another thought was the plastic cones that a vet puts around the dogs neck to stop it licking a wound. It would have to be a very large size but they must be available. Checked on ebay this morning and the ones I could find were Hong Kong and Canada only.

I may be wrong but I suspect that buster collars are a bit too weak and wobbly!
If all else fails: http://www.bioquip.net/acatalog/insects_moth_traps.html has them for £30. I bought my Robinson from them and was pleased with the quality.
Ken

 

[ben_lewis]

Wow thanks, I wish I'd asked earlier. I have been checking ebay too but missed this somehow, I love the dog collar idea too, thinking 'outside the box'!

thanks,

 

[antshrike69]

If you wanted to try a buster collar, you can buy them over the counter at any vets in the country. There are various manufacturers and different vets tend to use different brands - some are lighter (= more flimsy) and some are more rigid. They generally only cost <£10.

 

[Charlie Sargent]

If you wanted to try a buster collar, you can buy them over the counter at any vets in the country. There are various manufacturers and different vets tend to use different brands - some are lighter (= more flimsy) and some are more rigid. They generally only cost <£10.

Thanks Jonathan. I have to visit the vets this week with the cat so I will check it out.
Charlie

 

[ben_lewis]

Just ordered my polycarbonate from Ebay, all I need for under a tenner. Cant believe I've been looking for so long, finally I have some on the way. Should be interesting to see if it helps retain more moths in the trap compared to the metal collar.