Hi guys!
I’m trying to get into moth trapping here in Aotearoa, and i was wondering what sort of gear would you suggest for building a decent trap to catch several species?
I don’t have much of a budget (student) so i’d love to know what gear you guys suggest that i could buy here (light, trap-type, etc)
Thanks!
The simplest way would be to buy these black light bars from Amazon, or something similar, and set them up in front of a white sheet at night (potentially with a normal torch shining as well). In my experience, even just white light with a sheet will attract more moths than a proper bucket trap, unless you want to go with a mercury vapour bulb setup (which can get expensive and complicated).
The only drawback is that you’ll want to be around the trap while it’s running, as the moths are obviously not going to be contained. With winter coming in, this will mean a lot of nights where you’re outside a lot longer than you’d want to be. It’s worth it, though… at least for me as an Australian!
If you’re on Facebook, there are a couple groups that will give you some ideas for actual trap designs and how they work in the field.
Otherwise search google for “moth bucket trap” “budget moth trap” and similar terms.
Any UV light source will work to attract moths (and beetles and other things) but from my experience, the best “cheap” light source is a UV fluorescent bulb. Search for “UV CFL Bulb” wherever you buy such things in NZ. UV LED also works well and is generally easier to power off battery. Mercury Vapor HID bulbs arguably get the best results, but may be hard to find and will require a gas generator or wall power - inconvenient if trapping in remote areas. There are some companies (like EntoQuip) making purpose-built UV LED fixtures specifically for insect trapping, but a cheap UV LED fixture like the one linked by @eupanacra will work well enough, for much less investment. Since you will have to DIY the trap, you should be able to adapt pretty much any light source to work with your setup.