Rick
Super member
Any tips on collecting the specimens for photos? I assume they are incredibly delicate?Resistance was futilelove it.
Trap looks effective, well done. feel free to share pics on this thread
-
the Daily hi thread
Moth trapping for study
- Thread starter Backgardenplinker
- Start date
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
Erm yes. Try to do everything slowly. Like removing the egg boxes and lid of trap.
If the moths are settled roosting they won't want to move. If that's a good position for a picture then perfect. If they are tucked in a tight spot or awkward angle I gently prod them on a leg with a blade of grass or somthing. Its pot luck if they fly straight off but they should be sleepy and need to warm wing muscles before flight. They will sit and vibrate. Should get opportunities for pics.
I do handle them sometimes, it depends on species and luck I think as some won't have any of it
In practice, you will find a few are Very Flighty. Generally the ones that you look at and think " I've not seen that one before"!
The rest will sit quietly on,or underneath, your egg boxes giving you a great opportunity to test out your autofocus. In fact a few are pretty reluctant to let go of the boxes at all.
An ideal trap has a lid that is easily removed, allowing good access for box removal.
Keep an eye out for wasps and hornets too
.Someone in my Norfolk group has just recorded a Purple Hairstreak
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
Fine weather last night. I moved the trap further from the pond and got a fair few 
.
The Scalloped oak moth is a nice one I've not seen before. It was under the rock!
2x elephant hawk moths.
Riband wave.
A few Dark arches.
Garden carpet I think or a ground carpet
Few willow beauties.
Double striped pug.
Codling moth.
Large yellow underwing.
Lovely little one here. Gold triangle moth.
This moth flew off from trap but managed to get pic of it. Not good ones. I think a mother of pearl moth.
More new ones! A pair of double square spots
Big post. Got carried away with pics today
.The Scalloped oak moth is a nice one I've not seen before. It was under the rock!
2x elephant hawk moths.
Riband wave.
A few Dark arches.
Garden carpet I think or a ground carpet
Few willow beauties.
Double striped pug.
Codling moth.
Large yellow underwing.
Lovely little one here. Gold triangle moth.
This moth flew off from trap but managed to get pic of it. Not good ones. I think a mother of pearl moth.
More new ones! A pair of double square spots
Big post. Got carried away with pics today
Attachments
Jimiles
Super member
Brilliant! Thanks for taking the trouble to identify & name them all.
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
Thanks, I enjoy looking it up on app and then a quick Google
. I'm not 100% sure all those ID's are correct though
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
Ran again last night, possibly last time for a little while. More new species.
The white plume moth. Odd thing, very delicate.
And this is nice. The Early thorn moth.
The July high flyer moth.
Clouded brindle moth? I thought a dark arches but maybe not!
The nut tree tussock moth. I thought a tawny marbled minor.
Seen all these before but couldn't resist pics.
Brimstone.
Riband wave.
Large yellow underwing.
Buff ermine.
Garden carpet.
I lie, the tiny white one in this pic I don't think I've seen before but had a few today. It's a bird cherry ermine. Next to an uncertain moth (I think)
The white plume moth. Odd thing, very delicate.
And this is nice. The Early thorn moth.
The July high flyer moth.
Clouded brindle moth? I thought a dark arches but maybe not!
The nut tree tussock moth. I thought a tawny marbled minor.
Seen all these before but couldn't resist pics.
Brimstone.
Riband wave.
Large yellow underwing.
Buff ermine.
Garden carpet.
I lie, the tiny white one in this pic I don't think I've seen before but had a few today. It's a bird cherry ermine. Next to an uncertain moth (I think
)
Rick
Super member
Nice weather last night so decided to deploy the bodged moth trap overnight and see if it worked ok.
Blacklight set to minimum as it seemed rather bright on anything other than low!
It caught a few but nothing like @Backgardenplinker efforts.
Maybe the trap needs some tweaking or the positioning of it or perhaps there just were not many flying things about?
More experimentation needed.
Anyway, aside from a big Houdini that buggered off as soon as I popped the lid, this is what it caught
(i.d's best taken with a large pinch of salt as I relied heavily on an app as I am clueless with moths!)
App suggested "Long Legged Tabby" but Im not convinced!
Next one is apparently the same species according to the App (looks totally different to me!)
Next is a "True Lovers Knot"
Next is a "Large Yellow Underwing" (interesting love heart shape on the wing)
Narrow Winged Pug
And finally a tiny bug that the APP suggests is a "Trefoil Plant Bug"
Blacklight set to minimum as it seemed rather bright on anything other than low!
It caught a few but nothing like @Backgardenplinker efforts.
Maybe the trap needs some tweaking or the positioning of it or perhaps there just were not many flying things about?
More experimentation needed.
Anyway, aside from a big Houdini that buggered off as soon as I popped the lid, this is what it caught
(i.d's best taken with a large pinch of salt as I relied heavily on an app as I am clueless with moths!)
App suggested "Long Legged Tabby" but Im not convinced!
Next one is apparently the same species according to the App (looks totally different to me!)
Next is a "True Lovers Knot"
Next is a "Large Yellow Underwing" (interesting love heart shape on the wing)
Narrow Winged Pug
And finally a tiny bug that the APP suggests is a "Trefoil Plant Bug"
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
A great first result there @Rick
Other than the large yellow underwing I've not seen any of those
I dont have a clue on moths either but am learning them slowly. I am relying on an app and then Google to confirm. I'll look at the long legged tabby moth pics again and see if can ID
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
My app says the moth on blue background is the long legged tabby
The one on the black background it suggests it is most likely a caddis fly, then it suggest an African species a black wedge pyrale. 3rd suggestion is the long legged tabby again.
Not sure on that one
The one on the black background it suggests it is most likely a caddis fly, then it suggest an African species a black wedge pyrale. 3rd suggestion is the long legged tabby again.
Not sure on that one
Jimiles
Super member
@Backgardenplinker What app are you guys using please?
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
I am using one called. Insect ID
I dont think it's the best one. It's free but with annoying adds.
There are quite a few if you Google. I tried some before but had to pay for them after certain amounts of time or couldn't work out what I was doing.
Jimiles
Super member
Thank you! I've been putting a lamp out for several years but my wife & I have been thumbing through books to identify our haul. Its not occurred to me until now to use an app 
Rick
Super member
Try typing "What's flying tonight?" into your search engine.Thank you! I've been putting a lamp out for several years but my wife & I have been thumbing through books to identify our haul. Its not occurred to me until now to use an app
If you do it on your phone you can add it as a web app and it gives you a list of moths likely to be flying in your area.
Looks quite useful
Jimiles
Super member
Thank you Rick.
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
That's really good that. Thanks
Rick
Super member
Tried the trap again last night. Same position. Increased light to level 3 (up from 1) to see if things improved.
Things definitely improved!
Again all i.d's are from "Picture Insect" and cross referenced with "What's Flying Tonight" where possible
Rosy Tabby (dubious this one)
Small Grey and a Brown Tail
Peppered Moth (foreground) also known as the Darwin Moth (worth a little read if like me you were not aware of its significance)
Brown Tail
Pine Hawk Moth
Rosy-striped Knot-horn (another dubious one!)
True lovers knot
Pebble hook-tip
Things definitely improved!
Again all i.d's are from "Picture Insect" and cross referenced with "What's Flying Tonight" where possible
Rosy Tabby (dubious this one)
Small Grey and a Brown Tail
Peppered Moth (foreground) also known as the Darwin Moth (worth a little read if like me you were not aware of its significance)
Brown Tail
Pine Hawk Moth
Rosy-striped Knot-horn (another dubious one!)
True lovers knot
Pebble hook-tip
Backgardenplinker
Member Extraordinaire
Jimiles
Super member
Rick, your photography is absolutely awesome! Very well done
The Pine Hawk moth is just amazing.
The Pine Hawk moth is just amazing.
Rick
Super member
Part 2
Double-striped pug
Spindle Ermine
Riband wave
Canary-shouldered Thorn
Scarce footman
Waste Grass Veneer (dubious)
Chestnut Tortrix (dubious)
Large yellow underwing
Common footman
Double-striped pug
Spindle Ermine
Riband wave
Canary-shouldered Thorn
Scarce footman
Waste Grass Veneer (dubious)
Chestnut Tortrix (dubious)
Large yellow underwing
Common footman