Post 406 - Marvellous Moth trapping - Part 1

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) - a bugs eye view

Hey everyone, Post 406 today and I thought I would do a post on another nature activity that I do. I have been lucky enough to do this activity in places like Nosterfield nature reserve and High Batts nature reserve and now as often as I like in my back garden. I'm also looking forward to a special event where I will get to do this at Fountains Abbey, that one I'm really looking forward to.

What am I talking about, well it's moth trapping!

Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

I was really lucky earlier this year when I was asking Jill Warwick (if you read my posts often you'll know Jill is someone I do lots of moth trapping and bird ringing with) about moth traps only to find out she knew someone that was looking for a good home for a trap they didn't need anymore. So I got in touch and I am now the proud owner of a skinner trap :-)

Twin Spot Quaker (Orthosia munda)

I've used it a few times and been very excited every time I go along to it in the morning to start emptying it of all the egg boxes to see what's hiding inside. I also like hunting around the outside to see if any moths have decided to hide in the grass or on the outside of the trap.

It's been a bit on the chilly side since I've had it so I haven't had loads in the trap yet but I'm looking forward to trying again as it gets a bit warmer.

So what have I found living in my garden so far, we'll I've had these species so far:

Common Quakers (these seem to be the most common of the moths I get)

Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)

Hebrew Characters
Early Greys
Twin Spotted Quakers
Clouded Drabs
Small Quakers

This doesn't seem to be much but I've probably had an average of about 15 of each moth in my garden so it's a nice little moth community. :-)

Black Sexton Beetle (Nicrophorus humator)

I keep putting my moth trap out hoping I'll get a nice amount of moths each time. I had hoped that this weekend would have given me a few more species to tell you about but after putting it out twice this weekend I've only had one Hebrew Character and this beetle!

I'm not sure why I didn't get more this weekend so if anybody has any tips of what sort of weather is really good for getting moths in the trap or what sort of area to put it in my garden then please either Tweet me, e-mail me or comment on this post.

I've called this post Marvellous Moth Trapping Part 1 as I will keep trying to catch more moths and I hope to have some more nice species to tell you about in future parts.

Hope you enjoyed,

Z.