Blood, flesh and stuff!

[Leptraps at aol.com]

Many species of butterflies and even some moths will feed on the liquids, 
including blood from fresh road kills. My father-in-law was a farmer, when 
visiting him early in the fall some twenty years ago, he slaughtered a hog. 
The pigs blood was soaked the ground and Polygonia comma and Polygonia 
interogationis visited the blood, just like a mud puddle club.

I know a little bit about bait and bait traps. If you want Nymphlids, 
especially Polygonia and Nymphalis, take a small snake and or toads/frogs, 
mince them in a blender (I suggest you use a blender other than your 
families), add a small amount of table salt or rock salt, place in contain 
and into trap. For best results, keep moist. As the bait ages like fine wine, 
it works even better. The smell may be unpleasant, but it will work. I used 
this bait numerous times when I lived in the mountains of western Virginia 
and trapped Polygonia progne, Polygonia faunus smythi, Polygonia comma, Polygo
nia interogantionis, Nymphalis antiopa, Speryeria atlantis, and Feniseca 
tarquinius in great numbers.

Another tasty bait is beef liver and frogs. Again, mince in a blender with 
some salt. Add a small amount of water, seal in an airtight container and let 
age in the sun for a day or two (MMM-yum). Once opened this tasty bait will 
attract the above and then some.

Turtles can also be used, especially box turtles. Cot or poke several holes 
in a dead turtles shell, add a pinch of salt and age in the sun. When you 
can't stand the smell, it is ready for the trap.

All of this baits will also attracted hoards of flies. If the flies remain in 
the trap, their constant movement will remove the majority of the scales from 
the wings any Lepidoptera in the trap. To provide an escape, cut a two inch 
hole in the top of the trap and sew in a piece of 1/4 inch grit galvanized 
screen. The majority of the flies will escape through the screen. If you want 
the small moths, forget the screen and check the traps several times during 
the day to remove the flies.

Water and salt help to slow the decaying process and increase liquids from 
the rotting flesh. It will also prevent fly maggots. I assume that phosphates 
and proteins are abundant in these liquids.

Ready for lunch!

Leroy C. Koehn
Lake Worth, FL