Moth Trap: my "Really Userful" guide

 Making a moth trap is a pretty easy project

 

I think I've illustrated this in a few old posts.

But recently someone asked about making the one I use, so here is a slightly better write up.

Moths in Bognor

This is our first summer in our new house by the seaside!

 

We have been using our DIY moth trap to sample the local population of moths.

It was a slow start, but now looking very positive.

My 'Cardboard Box' Moth Trap

I was wondering whether the clear plastic/glass panels in a typical Skinner trap were really necessary.

 

This led to a few experiments, and then to the construction of a simple cardboard moth trap...

...which is probably the cheapest DIY moth trap design imaginable!

Moth Trap: mark II

Now that it has finally stopped raining, its time to get the moth trap out.

 

But wait, I've had a idea for a better design.

So here is my mark II.

A simple Moth Trap

There are thought to be over 2500 species of moth in the UK.

Inspired by a friends mercury vapour illuminated Skinner moth trap, I decided to knock up a quick & cheap imitation.

So my design mostly uses bits & pieces that I found in my garage.

BirdBox 2016: fitting the UV LEDs

Although initial testing with a bunch of UV LEDs did not look too promising, I've decided to push ahead and fit them to a bird box anyway.

They were very cheap, and I'd like to say they were easy to retro-fit into last seasons bird box.

But a wiring error resulted in a blown Darlington driver, so it took up more of my Sunday afternoon than I'd expected.