Your moth trap set up (1 Viewer)

[Charlie Sargent]

Just for information Homebase sells 1mm poycarbonate not the clear stuff but opaque. It is in sheets of 3ft x 2ft for £13.99.

 

[Adam M]

As mentioned in the Moths of June thread, I had a rather large number of escapees last night. Not had this problem before, I usually leave the bulb on until it is light, but last night I turned if off at 12. Could this have meant the moths went back to their normal active ways meaning they had a greater chance to escape?

I clearly need a new way to shut the trap up properly, I currently just stick a couple of magazines in the gap, but due to them over-lapping they leave a small gap, which is where I think the moths got out last night. So, what do you use to close the trap up and is there a way which you would recommend for closing a trap up?

Adam

 

[Oleander]

As mentioned in the Moths of June thread, I had a rather large number of escapees last night. Not had this problem before, I usually leave the bulb on until it is light, but last night I turned if off at 12. Could this have meant the moths went back to their normal active ways meaning they had a greater chance to escape?

I clearly need a new way to shut the trap up properly, I currently just stick a couple of magazines in the gap, but due to them over-lapping they leave a small gap, which is where I think the moths got out last night. So, what do you use to close the trap up and is there a way which you would recommend for closing a trap up?

Adam

What kind of trap do you use Adam? I use a home made Skinner and there is a small gap between the box and the perspex at the top edge. To block the gap I use two pieces of folded A4 paper which I push down gently with some wood pieces.

I usually don't get any moths before 24.00, so my guess is that they will become very active again if you turn it off that early. Try moving the trap indoors or in a conservatory, if you have that. Then you could find the moths that escape.

:t:

 

[SveinB]

As mentioned in the Moths of June thread, I had a rather large number of escapees last night. Not had this problem before, I usually leave the bulb on until it is light, but last night I turned if off at 12. Could this have meant the moths went back to their normal active ways meaning they had a greater chance to escape?

I clearly need a new way to shut the trap up properly, I currently just stick a couple of magazines in the gap, but due to them over-lapping they leave a small gap, which is where I think the moths got out last night. So, what do you use to close the trap up and is there a way which you would recommend for closing a trap up?

Adam

Yes, turning the light off and leaving the trap until the morning means the moth go back to their normal activity and many will escape.

I think of one easy way to close the trap, just by making the rest for the perspex sheets in the end of the trap like on the quick drawing I made. Then the two perpex sheets can be placed in the upper position when trapping, and in the lower when closing the trap.

Svein B

 

[robhope]

I have always caught my best moths underneath a white garden umbrella / parasol which lays at a 45 degree angle on the floor and also helps shield the house from the light of the trap. When you sit out for a bit of an evening, more moths alight under the parasol than enter the trap - a quick jar catch and photos before release. I also always lay a couple of old white bed sheets under the trap to collect those moths who are too shy to enter the trap!

The only downside is that it looks a tad silly in the morning light and takes longer to tidy away.

robhope

Egrets, I've had a few

 

[The Hairy Highlander]

Trap Modifications...

Evening folks,

I've made some modifications to my trap this evening. The other day I ordered myself a new funnel - this time I went LARGE!! the funnel is now 10'' dia. and very deep, it extends a good 12'' into the trap which only leaves about 5'' between the end of the funnel and the floor of the trap - my theory is that if the end of the funnel is nearer to the floor of the trap the moths will fall in and fly to the egg cartons without flying about in the void which was there when I had the smaller 7'' dia. funnel, thus reducing by quite a bit the chances of the moths escaping! It's hard for me to explain, I hope you get the idea.....Also I've done away with the vanes and lowered the bulb about half way down the inside of the funnel so it's more like the Robinson set-up rather than having the bulb mounted above the rim of the funnel....

Fingers crossed this makes a difference and I dont have to worry so much about the little buggers getting out!! :t:

If anyone is looking for a new funnel, here's the link to the site I purchased mine from: http://www.biggerjugs.co.uk/funnel-plastic-budget-p-595.html

 

[Dmacaskill]

Evening folks,

I've made some modifications to my trap this evening. The other day I ordered myself a new funnel - this time I went LARGE!! the funnel is now 10'' dia. and very deep, it extends a good 12'' into the trap which only leaves about 5'' between the end of the funnel and the floor of the trap - my theory is that if the end of the funnel is nearer to the floor of the trap the moths will fall in and fly to the egg cartons without flying about in the void which was there when I had the smaller 7'' dia. funnel, thus reducing by quite a bit the chances of the moths escaping! It's hard for me to explain, I hope you get the idea.....Also I've done away with the vanes and lowered the bulb about half way down the inside of the funnel so it's more like the Robinson set-up rather than having the bulb mounted above the rim of the funnel....

Fingers crossed this makes a difference and I dont have to worry so much about the little buggers getting out!! :t:

If anyone is looking for a new funnel, here's the link to the site I purchased mine from: http://www.biggerjugs.co.uk/funnel-plastic-budget-p-595.html

Good luck mate!

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Evening folks,

I've made some modifications to my trap this evening. The other day I ordered myself a new funnel - this time I went LARGE!! the funnel is now 10'' dia. and very deep, it extends a good 12'' into the trap which only leaves about 5'' between the end of the funnel and the floor of the trap - my theory is that if the end of the funnel is nearer to the floor of the trap the moths will fall in and fly to the egg cartons without flying about in the void which was there when I had the smaller 7'' dia. funnel, thus reducing by quite a bit the chances of the moths escaping! It's hard for me to explain, I hope you get the idea.....Also I've done away with the vanes and lowered the bulb about half way down the inside of the funnel so it's more like the Robinson set-up rather than having the bulb mounted above the rim of the funnel....

Fingers crossed this makes a difference and I dont have to worry so much about the little buggers getting out!! :t:

If anyone is looking for a new funnel, here's the link to the site I purchased mine from: http://www.biggerjugs.co.uk/funnel-plastic-budget-p-595.html

I understand the logic and will be very interested to hear about the results. Whilst I am new to trapping I too thought I got to much of a void and have put more egg cartons in to see what happens when I set the trap Sunday evening. Good luck

Charlie

 

[The Hairy Highlander]

Good morning folks, It appears that my theory has been proved correct!

It's not 100% though, I watched a Peppered Moth fly into the trap last night but there's no sign this morning and I checked the trap before I went to bed and there was a Buff Tip sitting proud but again no sign this morning....I think they must have crawled rather than flown out......saying that though, there is definately much more moths still in there, considering I didn't seal the funnel or check the trap till 08:30 I'm happy to see at least 25-30 moths including my 7th garden Poplar Hawk of the year! :t:

The conditions weren't perfect last night either with quite a strong breeze until about 01:30 so I'm hoping tonight will be more favourable, I'll do the same as last night and leave the trap unsealed and hold of checking it until 08:30, hopefully with the same or better results.....

 

[Surreybirder]

Good morning folks, It appears that my theory has been proved correct!

It's not 100% though, I watched a Peppered Moth fly into the trap last night but there's no sign this morning and I checked the trap before I went to bed and there was a Buff Tip sitting proud but again no sign this morning....I think they must have crawled rather than flown out......saying that though, there is definately much more moths still in there, considering I didn't seal the funnel or check the trap till 08:30 I'm happy to see at least 25-30 moths including my 7th garden Poplar Hawk of the year! :t:

The conditions weren't perfect last night either with quite a strong breeze until about 01:30 so I'm hoping tonight will be more favourable, I'll do the same as last night and leave the trap unsealed and hold of checking it until 08:30, hopefully with the same or better results.....

Result! Of course it's probably light by 3.30 a.m. in your part of the world so the moths have had quite a while to escape during daylight if you check the trap at 8.30. If rising at dawn is too much, at least you are getting some good moths. I'm afraid I'm the type who wakes at dawn when the trap is on whatever I tell my brain :eek!:

 

[The Hairy Highlander]

Result! Of course it's probably light by 3.30 a.m. in your part of the world so the moths have had quite a while to escape during daylight if you check the trap at 8.30. If rising at dawn is too much, at least you are getting some good moths. I'm afraid I'm the type who wakes at dawn when the trap is on whatever I tell my brain :eek!:

Your bang on mate, it is about 3:30, I've been getting up around 4ish the past few nights and have been sealing the trap but there hasn't been that many moths about, I'm hoping the new funnel will allow me to sleep for a few hours more - I'm usually up for 05:50 for work so I check the trap then, If the funnel does what I think it will do then I won't have to worry so much about loosing that many moths but I suppose you could expect some moths to get away regardless of when you check the tap!

 

[Twite]

Good morning folks, It appears that my theory has been proved correct!

It's not 100% though, I watched a Peppered Moth fly into the trap last night but there's no sign this morning and I checked the trap before I went to bed and there was a Buff Tip sitting proud but again no sign this morning....I think they must have crawled rather than flown out......saying that though, there is definately much more moths still in there, considering I didn't seal the funnel or check the trap till 08:30 I'm happy to see at least 25-30 moths including my 7th garden Poplar Hawk of the year! :t:

The conditions weren't perfect last night either with quite a strong breeze until about 01:30 so I'm hoping tonight will be more favourable, I'll do the same as last night and leave the trap unsealed and hold of checking it until 08:30, hopefully with the same or better results.....

Hi HH.

I think part of the reason you are losing some moths is, your trap is made of dark plastic, and your funnel is also quite dark, allowing very little light through. This means that once inside the trap the moths can only see one point of light, and head for it, and out. If you replaced the funnel with a clear one, or close to clear as you can get, the moths will have more light to 'aim for' instead of the small point of light they have now, and less likely to find their way out. May be worth a try.

Good mothing,

Twite.

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Hi HH.

I think part of the reason you are losing some moths is, your trap is made of dark plastic, and your funnel is also quite dark, allowing very little light through. This means that once inside the trap the moths can only see one point of light, and head for it, and out. If you replaced the funnel with a clear one, or close to clear as you can get, the moths will have more light to 'aim for' instead of the small point of light they have now, and less likely to find their way out. May be worth a try.

Good mothing,

Twite.

Hi Twite

Hey that's a good point. I recently made a skinner and instead of plastic for the top I have used two pieces if thin plywood. My catches have not been as good as other trappers on this forum and wonder if this is the reason why. I am new to all this and was wondering if I had got a problem or not. Last night I watched over the trap for about 45 mins and was amazed to see how many moths were going into the trap and how many were going out. For example I watched three Buff Ermine go in but this morning there was only one.

Charlie

 

[Twite]

Hi Twite

Hey that's a good point. I recently made a skinner and instead of plastic for the top I have used two pieces if thin plywood. My catches have not been as good as other trappers on this forum and wonder if this is the reason why. I am new to all this and was wondering if I had got a problem or not. Last night I watched over the trap for about 45 mins and was amazed to see how many moths were going into the trap and how many were going out. For example I watched three Buff Ermine go in but this morning there was only one.

Charlie

Charlie.

Skinner traps are notorious for losing moths, the entrance/exit is so big. If you are using ply instead of clear perspex/polycarbonate the problem is exacerbated. If you change to perspex the difference will be huge. If you add vertical baffles at the bottom of the sloped perspex pieces, you'll keep even more of your catch. If you're not sure what I mean I'll take a photo of my old Skinner and post it.

Good mothing,

Twite.

 

[Charlie Sargent]

Charlie.

Skinner traps are notorious for losing moths, the entrance/exit is so big. If you are using ply instead of clear perspex/polycarbonate the problem is exacerbated. If you change to perspex the difference will be huge. If you add vertical baffles at the bottom of the sloped perspex pieces, you'll keep even more of your catch. If you're not sure what I mean I'll take a photo of my old Skinner and post it.

Good mothing,

Twite.

Hi Twite

Thanks for the information. I know exactly what you mean about the vertical baffles. Did a training course with a guy called Dave Grundy who you may know and I saw them on his trap.

I am off on holiday Thursday for 10 days. When I get back I think I will make a Robinson. I will change the Skinner to perspex as well.

Regards Charlie

 

[The Hairy Highlander]

Hi HH.

I think part of the reason you are losing some moths is, your trap is made of dark plastic, and your funnel is also quite dark, allowing very little light through. This means that once inside the trap the moths can only see one point of light, and head for it, and out. If you replaced the funnel with a clear one, or close to clear as you can get, the moths will have more light to 'aim for' instead of the small point of light they have now, and less likely to find their way out. May be worth a try.

Good mothing,

Twite.

Yeah mate, that is a good point, totally understand that....however I doubt I'll find a claer funnel the same size and depth as the new one I got, the catch and retain rate has definately improved now though - I had 3 Poplar Hawks in the trap last night! :t:

 

[ben_lewis]

Just out of interest does anybody buy their egg boxes from the internet?
I know they are free, if you eat enough eggs, I have been saving them all winter but a few showers have caught me out and left me with soggy boxes on several occasions.
Online you can get 75 half dozen boxes for about 10 pounds. Anyone do this and if so which sites have you found best value for money etc?
Wish this nagging North Easterly would stop soon, its been dire here in Kent the past few nights!

 

[Surreybirder]

I ask our cook at work to keep egg boxes for me and I get more than I can use. I also find that they dry out pretty well when they get wet.

 

[Twite]

Just out of interest does anybody buy their egg boxes from the internet?

Ben.

If you go to the kitchen/store door of any hotel or restaurant and ask for egg trays, it's most likely anyone there will be happy to let you have them. They hold two dozen eggs. Cut them in half, perfect, much better than egg boxes. I've heard of some using acoustic foam in place of egg boxes in their traps, I haven't tried it so can't comment on it.

Twite.

 

[ben_lewis]

Thanks Twite, I thought someone might suggest the catering route. I may well try that, after all free is better than an internet offer!