On the trail of the lonesome Pine (Hawk)

[Nick Greatorex-Davies]

When not spend the night in a nice calling cage in the garden - sure
to attract plenty of local talent. 

The cage I have used over the years for a variety of hawk moths and
other moths (though not Pine Hawk (Hyloicus pinastri)) is a cube wire
frame covered in sexy white muslin with a sleeve on one side into
which an inverted plastic flower pot has been seductively sown into
the muslin. Wedge / attach the cage to a bush or whatever with the
flower pot at the bottom. I sometimes place mine over the top of the
folded up rotary washing line in the middle of the lawn leaving enough
space for the male moths to crawl up past the arms of the washing line
- this also reduces the chance of the males dropping out through the
entrance hole again. Works a treat. Males soon assemble after dark and
fly around the outside of the cage and eventually - does not take long
for the more determined (fitter and sexier) males to find their way in
- and hey presto. Sometimes get two or three males in before a pairing
takes place so maybe you'll have a choice! I think I have only ever
lost one female (moth!) this way. They tend to fly up and soon settle
to call and so don't drop out through the entrance hole - but that's
always a risk.

Hope this helps - have a good night!
Nick Greatorex-Davies

P.S. I'm surprised you have not mailed the lists UK-leps or UKmoths.

>>> Andrew Torry <A.P.K.Torry at csm.ex.ac.uk> 04/07/00 09:28:06 >>>
Hi to anyone in the UK.

I am a beautiful large freshly emerged Pine Hawk female who is
feeling
really really lonely (aka randy) and would like to meet a like minded
male
for sex sex and more sex. If anyone out there wants to come up and
see me
sometime then please contact me on A.P.K.Torry at csm.ex.ac.uk or phone
me up
on 01209 713666 ASAP (I am desperate).

Regards

Andrew T