Moth Traps

[Hugh McGuinness]

Hi Phil,
 
Most moth traps of which I am aware have some sort of clear plexiglass pane between the light source and the moth's flight path. The moth flying towards or by the lamp bonks into the pane and falls into the funnel and then into the trap. In addition I have noticed that since the funnel is usually painted white, it reflects a lot of the light from the lamp, and the moths also seem to be attracted to the funnel and often fly directly into the opening.
 
I would also recommend that you set up a light sheet instead of or in addition to the trap. This apparatus is simply a large bedsheet hung from the side of a buidling or from a supporting frame with a black light rigged to rest on or in front of the sheet. There are several advantages to this arrangement. First, you get to see living moths and how they act, which itself is fascinating. Second you also get to see a lot of other very neat nocturnal insects, and sometimes other taxa as well. Third, anything that you take can be placed directly into a highly potent killing jar, causing much less damage to the specimen than typically occurs in a trap (where the moths may beat themselves ragged or may be clawed by writhing beetles). Fourth, you teach the important lesson of only killing what you need for your collection, and not a huge pile of unwanted moths and other insects.
 
hugh
 
Hugh McGuinness
Sag Harbor, NY

________________________________

From: owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu on behalf of Phil Cross
Sent: Sun 6/19/2005 4:30 AM
To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
Subject: Moth Traps



Repeat posting - now I am a member of the list :

My 7 year old grandson is very interested in the natural world. I
would like to make a moth trap for when he next visits, and have found
plenty of information in this group's archives, and on the web.
However, there is one aspect of their operation which I don't
understand, and I am sure to be asked .

My problem is this -

I understand that moths at night are attracted to a light, and have
read debates about why this should be. However, when a moth decides to
come to the light on a light trap, why does it then decide to crawl
downwards through a restricted opening into a container below the
light?

Please could someone help?

Regards, Phil.


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