I'm getting moth trapping withdrawal with all this cold, wet weather but moth trapping seems to be in the media a lot recently. Possibly because national moth week is coming up soon? https://nationalmothweek.org/
The Eakring Birds shows stuff in Notts. We are just across the border (the Erewash) and moths common in Notts, like the Privet hawkmoth are rare in Derbyshire.... until a couple of years ago one caught in Long Eaton, then last year I had one, and this year someone a mile away, other side of A52 caught one. Still marked as Very rare in Derbyshire. Maybe they are coming up the Trent valley and then up the Erewash canal. Migration routes of moths are very strange. Worrying is the fact that Oak processionary moth was thought to be confined to London, a few have been caught in the locality, but several Oak trees in West Park in Long Eaton are infested and have to be treated. Worrying because we have two large oak trees the neighbours would like any excuse to get rid of. Currently the main complaint is they cast shade, drop acorns and leaves in autumn. The Oaks are about 150 years older than the houses, so no excuse really. If you don't want an oak tree in your back garden, don't buy the bloody house.
Last night I managed 15 moths of 11 species. This time last year I had nearly 50 species in a night. The temperature is due to rise on Friday so I'm hoping for a better night then. I did record this Common Wainscot last night. I'm sure I've had several in the past but I must have failed to note them down so it's a new species on the list now.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I'm putting my new super large super bright trap out tonight. Fingers crossed. I have to admit that putting it together was like something out of the krypton factor. A set of instructions wouldn't have gone amiss.
I have been looking online at traps, they are quite expensive. Any reccomendations for a casual beginner ? I found a build your own set of instructions on line but the first requirement is a grown up to help, the next is to buy the electrics, the third would be to be able to make sense of the instructions. Not much hope really 🤣
If you don't want to trap the moths and don't mind going to bed late then a white sheet and a lamp are all you need. Upgrade to a UV bulb or Mercury Vapour if you can, both are under £20, but you might need to wear some safety glasses if you're using UV. Any basic polycarbonate glasses will do the job.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
You could hang a white sheet up over a washing line and illuminate it with a black light uv torch.
Google black light torches.
I'm thinking of a different setting for my black light, involving a lampshade frame, a cone of shame dog collar for the funnel and a large really useful box.
Thanks both, I have read about using a sheet and torch but I think I would like to trap them to look next day in daylight. I will try to make the contraption shown off tinternet. I am planning to use an inspection light with a normal bulb, don't know how effective that will be.
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