How to find your moths
Now for the fun bit, going moth hunting!
At this point it’s important to be clear about the sort of ‘hunting’ that is going on. In years gone by, butterflies and moths were physically collected, killed and then identified, often ending up mounted on pins in display cases. Thankfully, that’s not what we’re talking about here. We’ll be looking to find moths, take photos for identification (hurrah for digital cameras and phones!) and leave them to get on with their mothy lives. At all times, we’re looking to have as little impact on wildlife as possible, to focus on supporting, protecting and promoting it. The moths aren’t ours, they don’t belong to us, they’re just visiting or living alongside us.
Starting out
There are more moths in the warmer months, so to be assured of success, begin your hunt between April and October. In the Moths by Month section, I’ve given some moths to look for in the colder months, they are there but they’re fewer in number and less active.
Daytime Moth Spotting
There are some moths that are easily found during the day, hanging about in grass or just flying around. One of the most exciting daytime moths I’ve seen was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, which as it suggests is like a hummingbird, and it was feeding on a salvia plant in my garden as I sat having a quiet cuppa. If you walk through long grass on a summer’s day, you’re likely to disturb tiny moths and warm evenings bring out lots to see in daylight. Follow one and see where it lands then take a quick photo. You can waft around using a butterfly net to catch your moth and get a bit closer. There are also Sweep Nets, which can be brushed over grass and weeds to disturb flying insects and see what’s flitting about.
One of the main places I find moths during the day is in our polytunnels, so anywhere enclosed and sheltered like a conservatory or porch would also be a good place to look. Move things around a bit, if there are any plants or places that insects might hide, you could give them a gentle shake and see what flies out. Piles of empty plant pots are a prime hiding place for moths.
Looking at night
Moths like dry, mild weather with no rain and no more than a light breeze. Your chances of success will be much higher if you look on a ‘good’ moth night. You might see moths in other conditions, but they will be fewer. I often find that a fine, slightly warmer day after a spell of a few days of wet, windy or cold weather is the best for finding a nice batch of moths. I imagine them hunkering down, waiting out the wind and rain, then coming out for a good night out flying with friends.
Leave a light on
The easiest way to find a moth is to wait until it’s dark and to turn a light on. They are attracted to light and will come towards it. You could choose a light inside a room and watch what appears at the window. If you don’t want a load of moths in the room, keep the window closed. If you leave the light on all night, you’ll usually find some moths on the wall around the window and on the frame first thing in the morning. Choose a wall that doesn’t get the sun on it till later in the day and the moths are more likely to sit tight than fly straight off as soon as the light hits them.
If you have a porch, shed or conservatory that can be left open overnight with a light inside, moths will also find it. Be aware of the security risks however, and don’t illuminate portable goods that someone passing might just take away.
Moth traps
Moth traps are basically a box or bucket with a light on top and a funnel going into the box. The moths are attracted to the light, fly around it and fall down the funnel into the box. They can’t easily get back up the funnel tube, so they stay there until they’re released. Additional egg cartons or similar packaging placed inside the box create little nooks and crannies that the moths like to hide in while they’re waiting.
My portable moth trap that runs from a small 12V batttery
There are lots of different types of moth trap to buy, but they are quite an investment if you’re just starting out. They can be home-made fairly cheaply and plans for Bucket Moth Traps can be found online and made with easily available materials. See here for an example. The main issue used to be getting a light that is reliable and will last for a whole night when lit, but LED torches and light strips are now energy efficient and can run off small, re-chargable battery packs which makes the whole thing much more accessible. If you’re using a mains powered lamp, it needs to be safe for use outdoors as the dampness of the night could cause a short circuit and you and the moths will all end up in the dark.
Local wildlife and moth groups may have a moth trap you could borrow initially or you could ask around online. People often have the most unusual things tucked away in lofts, garages and sheds!
If you’re trapping moths, be aware that the moths then can’t get away until you release them. Any time after dawn you’ll find small birds eyeing up your moth trap as a breakfast buffet. If you don’t get up early to check the catch, record and release them, you’ll find and empty trap with a sad pile of moth wings at the bottom and a plump little wren looking on. Set your alarm nice and early and let your moths live another day!
Portable moth trap set and ready to go. The sheet is just to more easily see what might be around the trap and the black box provides a waterproof cover for the battery. It’s also a handy seat when examining the moths!