Teesmouth Bird Club

I am becoming interested in moths and would like some advice on several things:
how do you capture moths?
titles of  any good id books
is there a recording scheme for moths
are there any clubs local or national

long list I know but any advice/help would be much appreciated, thanks Alan

Hi Alan,
I'm a beginner myself as one or two will know but I can recommend a couple of books.

1/ Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland by Martin Townsend and Paul Waring.
2/ British Moths and Butterflies a photographic guide by Chris Manley.
Both books are for sale on Amazon.
First two on this link.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_6?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=moths+and+butterflies+of+great+britain+and+ireland&sprefix=moths+


You can pay quite a lot of money for a proper setup, but I just use a converted plastic tub which includes a funnel and a light to attract the moths. The light I currently use works from a 12V battery but I've found in the past  that a low energy electric bulb also attracts them because it has a mercury content. Obviously if you use electric, make sure Its guarded against the elements.

Also It's best to use the trap on hot clammy and overcast nights, but as long as you have a temperature, I think, It has to be above 5%.

See attached and hope this helps.  If can help in any other way just mail me.

Damian & Jamie have been a big help to me in the past and still are 

Regards.   Ray.

Alan - some of this may be of interest :-

Recording NORTH of the Tees :- http://www.northeast-butterflies.org.uk/index.html

Recording SOUTH of the Tees :- http://www.yorkshirebutterflies.org.uk/index.htm  

A popular source of equipment :-  http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/index.html  

This company supplied me with a HPMV lamp and ballast for £33 which wont be beaten :-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130500978264&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I ID the moths firstly by looking at what other people have seen and checking the name on this site :- http://ukmoths.org.uk/

Here's a pic of my latest setup, continually modifying...

Consists of Lampshade from Boyeses, Tub from skip, perspex cut into a circle, egg boxes, and a black lamp which give out UV, the other lampshade is my latest MV lamp as mentioned above.
The baffles or 'flight interceptors' supposedly knock the moths into the cone.



Hope this helps. Gordon.

Sorry for the delay in replying to both of you but have been busy over the last few days. Anyway thanks very much for your info and tips they are very much appreciated. A couple of questions:
1. Ray you say you use a funnel what sort/size does it just fit inside the entrance to the tub? It might seem obvious but does fit large end up?
2.What sort of light is in the picture and where did you get it from?
3.Gordon what do you mean by 'ballast'?

You have have both been very helpful and have provided more incentive to have a go. When do you stop using you traps, end of August/September?

Again many thanks,
Alan

Hi Alan
I bought a 12 inch funnel for the home made trap and cut the end off so there was about a 45mm hole in the bottom end.
Also the lid for the trap was made from a circular clothes basket and altered so the funnel would fit, and yes, the light is positioned above the large end of the funnel as in a previous post by Gordon.
The light that I currently use was bought at, as also mentioned by Gordon, but I used the much cheaper low energy electric bulb at first to see if the interest would last.

As far as your last comment/question, I believe you can get moths all year round, but not in the same quantities etc and as long as the temperature is, I believe above 5%.

http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/prof/index.html

I think at the time the light I got was about £59

regards.   Ray

P.S Maybe another helpful site for when you get going is:
http://www.nemoths.co.uk/

Ray.

Hi Ray,
Thanks again for your help and advice, just need the time to set my own trap up.Will let you know when I am up and running.
Alan