My Moths

This thread is getting awesome Hazel, the names are as pretty as the moths themselves,keep up the good work. Is there a reason you use red instead of white? just thought I'd ask Lol

Terry

Thanks all for your appreciation.

Terry : it's actually rosé & I used it as it's the cheapest available (€1,25 a litre)!! I don't suppose they notice the difference in the dark, it just seems to have come out quite dark on the ropes.

I finally got the light trap today & am doing a trial run tonight. There are 3/4 other people spread around Charente Maritime who are also doing the light traps to get the best possible coverage of the area. I must admit that since I started it I've become Hooked (with a capital H). I just love the names too! Amazing!

Further news tomorrow.

Fascinating Hazel!  I always knew there were loads and loads of different moth species, but to get close ups of such a variety of them is great!  I can see how you could become hooked!

I seem to have only just caught up with this interesting thread Hazel, wonderful photos and detail,  I don't have a clue about moths so its good to learn more; there are so many beautiful ones.  

You are getting some fabulous moths - very addictive although I would have legged it at the sight of the hornet -

Caroline in Jersey

Great update Hazel, you're getting some real crackers there. Looking forward to seeing what the light trap brings in.

Paul

Thanks again for your interest folks.

We picked up the bits for the light trap yesterday & put it all together last night. It's quite simple really, an Ikea laundry bag, in which we cut 3 half round holes leaving the material pegged up. A 15/18W UV bulb, a gubbings to plug it in which is waterproof & can be used in aquariums, some empty egg boxes & a long extension lead (ours) to the garage & a stone to weigh it down if it gets windy. The gubbings :

The bulb

All put together

& then switched on.

I got up at 6h30 to see what was there in case anything tried flying off at daybreak, but they were very good & only one shot off. There were 20 moths in total, of 10 species which isn't a massive amount, but a few prize specimens incuding the biggest of them all measuring 12cm,

A Giant Peacock moth

A Poplar Hawkmoth

A Mullein moth,

& 9 Muslin moths (all males)

I almost forgot the Silver Cloud

There are still a couple to identify, & I should point out that these identities all have to be checked by the "boss" of the group. Any corrections I'll edit in! Any suggestions for alternatives gratefully accepted!! 

I'll only be doing the light trap once a week as the poor moths need a bit of time to themselves for eating & mating etc

Wow! and more Wow!it's an amazing bit of kit hazel and certainly seems to work, that Mullein moth looks like a wood shaving Lol, great pics and keep them coming.

Forgive my ignorance, but what are the egg boxes for? is it to catch them when they drop?

Terry

Awesome  - nothing less that a stonking Giant

Caroline in Jersey

Your pics are so good HinGE & very interesting for us to see, look forward to further updates!

Are you going to have a go then D??  I would like to try this, already have a light box I use for pattern tracing, just need UV tube & all the rest of the 'gubbins', must start saving my egg boxes!   Wonder what variety of Moths are in this country?