A Red Underwing Catocala nupta enjoying some pretty rough red wine in the garden here this evening. By this time last year the same wine-rope had brought in my first Clifden Nonpareil of the year, so it can't be long now before they're out and about too.
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| Red Underwing, Westcott 16th August |
Dave Wilton Westcott, Bucks
My first attempt at a wine rope a few nights ago brought in...precisely nothing! Perhaps my red wine wasn't rough enough!? There was more activity around the buddleia.
ReplyDeletePhil T
Hi Phil,
ReplyDeleteIf you are just using red wine on its own that may perhaps be part of the reason. The recipe on the BC website suggests heating a bottle of cheap red in a pan then adding 1kg of sugar, allow to cool once the sugar has dissolved and then soak in it whatever strip(s) of materiel you are going to use. I'd suggest hanging it well out of site of your moth trap too. I almost always get something when I hang mine out (Copper Underwings and Heralds seem to be regulars this year) but I've also had Old Lady as well as Red Underwing in the past couple of weeks.
Hi Dave,
ReplyDeleteI did use sugar, but less than recommended--about 1/3 kg to a half-bottle of red. I'll try again with a stronger mix.