Hope this is ok to post.
As per the title when do you trap in winter? What is the lowest temperature that it's worth putting the trap out for?
I've had a series of no show trappings - I didn't trap last week but I'm wondering if I'm attempting the impossible due to the temperature.
Mark Griffiths, Garsington, Oxford.
A Blog for moth recorders in Bucks, Berks and Oxon
Hi Mark, I run my actinic light most suitable nights, even if only for a few hours, but when you get the kind of weather we've had for the last few days with daytime temperatures barely above freezing and then dropping below freezing by dusk, it simply isn't worth the bother. Tonight looks somewhat better though, as do subsequent nights up until the middle of next week.
ReplyDeleteIf the temperature at dusk is around 5C or above I'll always run the light even if a frost is forecast for later in the night. The first two or three hours after dark are when there is most likely to be moth activity and if nothing has appeared in that period I'll often turn the light off. Because many of the moths which fly at this time of year don't enter the trap, I dispense with it altogether and just run the actinic light indoors, against the windows in a corner of our conservatory, and that seems to work just fine. Things like Winter Moth and Scarce/Mottled Umber will sit on the glass (along with things like winter gnats and yellow dung flies - always useful indicators that moths could be around too). Species such as December Moth or any of the noctuids (Satellite, Chestnuts, etc) might have to be searched for with a torch as they sometimes try and hide away under the windowsill or on the wall/patio beneath.
thanks Dave, that's really helpful. I run the power for the trap out through the garage window so I could simply place the trap against the inside of the window.
ReplyDeleteTo the actinic light so far tonight at Westcott: Winter Moth (2) & Mottled Umber (3).
ReplyDelete