Moth catcher

desana · #1 (**permalink**) 10th June 2009, 16:41

Hi, just wondered what ppl thought to my moth catcher i built myself. These catchers are usually at least £100+. I had some plywood knocking around bought a length of 1"x1" £1.50. Some cable £5 a light socket £1, couple of pieces of perspex from the local sign shop £3 and the dearest item a black uv bulb £10 and knocked this up in a day. The idea is the light attracts the insects they go down the perspex and are trapped cos theres no way out there is a piece of egg crate inside the box that the isects get under then hopefully their will be a good catch for food for the mantids. Its in the little greenhouse for protection from the rain ,with the front flap all the way up at night for the little beasties to enter. Thanks for looking.

kernowaj · #2 (**permalink**) 10th June 2009, 16:54

Looks excellent. Let us know how well it works. I have been trying a sheet with a light behind it and havent had much sucess. I quite fancy knocking one of these up. I would think I could catch loads as I live across the road from some woods.

Birdfly · #3 (**permalink**) 10th June 2009, 18:18

It looks very nice and i'm sure it will work well

Andie · #4 (**permalink**) 10th June 2009, 18:21

Looks rather good you old clever clogs, keep us updated

kernowaj · #5 (**permalink**) 10th June 2009, 18:56

How do you get in there to get them out? Just take one of the perspex pieces out?

Sorry if Im being daft.

desana · #6 (**permalink**) 10th June 2009, 19:05

no your not daft. yes just slide one back lol

Gurd · #7 (**permalink**) 11th June 2009, 06:57

Nice work, tempted to have a go at 1 myself

desana · #8 (**permalink**) 15th June 2009, 09:07

Well here it is folks the proof of the catch rate using the moth trap. Last night i caught alltogether with the ones on the egg tray the ones in the bottom of the box and the ones fluttering around in the little plastic greenhouse cover around 40 moths. (NOT BAD EH!). To tell you the truth i have used a black uv bulb energy saver and a normal energy saver and catch rates havnt been that different 20 + every night. Except the blackbulb isnt seen from four streets away LOL! Pics below of last nights catch. Its great going out the next morning not knowing what species your gonna have in the trap. Wanting to catch a deaths head hawk moth. LOL!......Cheers.