[Bodger]

Being a bit of a saddo, one of the things that I like to do is to catch moths using what is known as a Skinner trap. I made the trap about five years ago and if anyone is interested then perhaps I could show you how to make your own. Its really simple and I must point out that catching them doesn't harm the moths at all. I think that you'd be amazed at just how beautiful some of the moths out there are.
I set my trap last Friday night and here are some of the more spectacular specimens that I caught.
 
 
 
 

 


 


 


 

[happygolucky]

Fascinating, we never really look closely at them.....I wish my brother would join this site as that's just his thing, he grows strange stuff and is interested in most natural things, particularly fungi and lichens but he does like insects too...

[in the hills]

Oooooo yes please.


Daughter would love to do that. Loves all wildlife including moths. Even the teeny ones are beautiful when you look closely at them. 

[Bodger]

Just for you 'in the hills'.
 
 
 
 
My son and I started to build a Skinner moth trap in June 2008 from plans that we found on the internet. We only used recycled materials .
The only real expense was incurred was when I picked  up a mercury bulb and socket from the local electrical warehouse. Unfortunately, they forgot to tell me that I also needed a control box to go with it.
I'd like to post pictures of the construction and the results of our first night. Needless to say, I was very excited at the thought of our first night mothing. Since then, we have modified the lamp and thankfully our photographic skills have improved somewhat.
 
Here are the plans that we followed.
http://www.meades.org/moths/moths.html
As I mentioned, we soon met up with a spot of bother.
Having built the box and bought the mercury bulb along with a socket, we tried the bulb and it blew straight away.  Unbeknown to me, you can't just plug a mercury vapour bulb in and expect it not to blow. Following this, I started to look at investing in a control unit and a new bulb.
Argh well, you live and learn I supose.
So that the first night wasn't a total loss, we ended up using the trap with a 100 watt energy saving bulb.
I went out to check it that first morning and saw that we had instant success in the form of one or two moths.
The design requires egg boxes to be placed at the bottom of the trap so that any insects that are attracted to the trap have somewhere to hide.  I also saw that we had attracted quite a few cockchaffer beetles and a few small moths.
Here are the pictures of us actually making the trap. I trust that they will be of help to anyone wishing to make their own.

Some of the raw materials. Recycled plywood.



Made into a 40x 40 cm box.



With perspex and a bulb added. The egg boxes are for the moths to hide themselves under after they have entered the trap.



We set it under the trees by the honeysuckle.



The trap was set all night.





I caught loads of moths and cockchaffer beetles.






Finally, here's the link that I used to purchase my second mercury bulb. The results from using these bulbs are far superior to even the brightest of household bulb. They were able to sell me a bulb that didn't need a control box, which was a great saving. The bulb that you need to ask for, is known as a balanced bulb and from memory, ours cost around fourteen pounds or so.
http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tubes/Mercury-Elliptical?leadsource=17&gclid=CJm1uJPR7JMCFQpPQgodGGOvzA
To conclude, here are a series of pictures that I'm extremely proud of. There are some beautiful moths out there that most people never get to see, why not make your own trap ?











I thought at first that a piece of silver birch had been blown into the trap but I was mistaken.







I found this last one amazing and it was only when it moved that it gave itself away.
 

Have fun.

[Fleecewife]

Oooooo yes please.


Daughter would love to do that. Loves all wildlife including moths. Even the teeny ones are beautiful when you look closely at them. 

Unless they're wool-eating moths 
 
I think we'll have a go at the light box - you've started something here, Over the Gate 
 
Is the big pink one an elephant hawk moth?  It's beautiful    (sorry - no moth icon).  We once had some giant, really giant, caterpillars with faces on their backsides on the willows, but they can't have liked our climate because they disappeared.
 
We get quite a few moths in the house as they flock around the door light, then when I open the door to let the dogs out at night, all the moths come in and next morning they are sleeping on the walls.  Unfortunately the mozzies come in too 
 
You can also increase your popularity with moths by growing night-scented flowers and other plants they like to live on.  It would be interesting to know more about that.  Any info on what to grow?

[goosepimple]

What a great thread.  I partic liked the white/grey moth pic - I think you should send that in somewhere and win a prize, it's beautiful 
 
Think I may make a quicker version of the trap with the kids over the summer hols - cardboard box, perspex, battery tea lights and egg box - might work?  We could set it outside our tent in the garden and see what happens...?

[Bodger]

I caught these on a July evening last year. You remember the summer of 2012 don't you?
 
It had been many years since I'd seen the once common Tiger Moth.
 
 


 


 


 

An old favourite, its nice that they are still about. :thumbup:
 


 


 


 

Now here are three that need looking up and naming. :scratch:
 


 


 


 

 

[HelenVF]

Stunning pics. I am always amazed at how different moths are. Love the silver birch looky liky!

Helen

[jaykay]

Beautiful, the hawk moths especially 

I live too far north for them now, but I did get a tiger moth here last year 

[Fleecewife]

That beautiful twig one goes under the oh-so boringly unimaginative name of 'buff tip' I think.  I wonder who dreams up names like that, and how long it takes them 

[Clarebelle]

These are really lovely pictures, I'm amazed at what a variety there are in this country, I didn't realise!

[thenovice]

Great pics, and much more interesting than butterflies. Always wanted to build one of those traps, and now I think I might! Ta very much. How far north are you?

[Bodger]

The Lleyn Peninsular, North West Wales but don't worry, there will be just as many moths in the northern most reaches of the country as there are here or anywhere else.

[in the hills]

   Thanks.


An activity for the long, hot summer holidays.    [size=78%] Son will enjoy the building work and we will enjoy the catching.[/size]

[Bert]

Lovely photos. I do like moths.
I've looked in my books and i think (but don't hold me to it ) are
 photo 1 Swallowtailed moth.
Photo 2 Ghost Swift female.
 Photo 3 Barred Straw.