Back Garden Moths Community - Frequently Asked Questions http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/ en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:05:42 GMT vBulletin 60 http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/images/misc/rss.png Back Garden Moths Community - Frequently Asked Questions http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/ placement of trap http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13733-placement-of-trap&goto=newpost Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:17:22 GMT Hi guys this may have already been asked/answered elsewhere, but I couldn't find anything.

Moth trap placement: Where is the best position? in open space or in amongst bushes/shrubs?

I ask in terms of attracting moths (less obtrusive hiden a bit, but I tried in the middle of the garden on the first night and had 17 moths, but hid it tucked up beside a large bush the second night and only caught 11 moths)

Thanks in advance guys. ]]> Frequently Asked Questions Beolens http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13733-placement-of-trap How common are A.inquinatellas ? http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13720-How-common-are-A.inquinatellas&goto=newpost Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:02:23 GMT A recent mild debate/confusion of thoughts on the other side (sorry probally bad form,apologies if so) has led to the general conclusion that... A recent mild debate/confusion of thoughts on the other side (sorry probally bad form,apologies if so) has led to the general conclusion that Agriphila inquinatella is less commonly found than A. geniculea. What is everyone else experince/opinions? Is A. inquin. more often seen? or is it that idents are up the creek?
I know this is a daft , huge and wide sweeping question as obviously it all depends on area, But generally speaking if its possible? ]]> Frequently Asked Questions Carol http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13720-How-common-are-A.inquinatellas Hornet problem continues. http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13627-Hornet-problem-continues.&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:54:17 GMT It was 20 degrees last night, the warmest night of the year, and I could not plug in the light. It is so frustrating, I am sure to be missing out on... It was 20 degrees last night, the warmest night of the year, and I could not plug in the light. It is so frustrating, I am sure to be missing out on loads of August moths. The wretched hornets are horrid and selfish.
In a desperate attempt to see some moths I took a ramble about the garden at 2.00a.m. with a miners torch strapped to my head ,and still the blasted hornets found me and started flying at the light !!!
They must have a nest somewhere close by. Does anyone know what sort of location they prefere ? I am not sure I could bring myself to destroy the nest but to know is to perhaps understand, and then avoid .
In the meantime I shall continue with the actinic in the woods , they do not seem quite so attracted to that, unfortunately neither do the moths. ]]> Frequently Asked Questions Carol http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13627-Hornet-problem-continues. Oleander Hawk food plants http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13609-Oleander-Hawk-food-plants&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:17:17 GMT I have some eggs/cats on the way in the next day or so, I know what the usual food plants are but was going to rear them on Privet, I have seen in a... I have some eggs/cats on the way in the next day or so, I know what the usual food plants are but was going to rear them on Privet, I have seen in a book that the young cats dont like Privet untill they have had a few moults, will grape vine be ok for the new hatchlings or are there any other food plants that will do eg Ash, Lilac? Help! ]]> Frequently Asked Questions Greg Dempster http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13609-Oleander-Hawk-food-plants Why no Elephant cats? http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13526-Why-no-Elephant-cats&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:14:40 GMT I have a border full of Rosebay Willowherb (white-form), but have never seen a Elephant Hawk-moth cat on it. Do you think it is because it is the... I have a border full of Rosebay Willowherb (white-form), but have never seen a Elephant Hawk-moth cat on it. Do you think it is because it is the white form and not the usual pink? I have had the cats on other plants including one of my pond marginals and always have lots of adults in the trap (25 two or three years ago is my record).
Can anyone throw some light on this mystery please?

Joan
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]]> Frequently Asked Questions Joan Gunson http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13526-Why-no-Elephant-cats Getting eggs of trap http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13497-Getting-eggs-of-trap&goto=newpost Wed, 18 Aug 2010 06:29:00 GMT In my trap when I checked it, I saw on the inside of the trap lid, a cluster of eggs. Look like they may be buff footman eggs, although I may be... In my trap when I checked it, I saw on the inside of the trap lid, a cluster of eggs. Look like they may be buff footman eggs, although I may be wrong (post images later). This isn't the issue on IDing what they are (not yet) but is there any safe way of getting them of the lid? I don't want them to stay there as I use this trap the most. Thanks in advance ]]> Frequently Asked Questions Dave McCormick http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13497-Getting-eggs-of-trap <![CDATA[it's puzzled me for ages]]> http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13360-it-s-puzzled-me-for-ages&goto=newpost Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:13:33 GMT My question is this: why (generally) are moth patterns so stable? In birds, plumage plays a vital part in species recognition and mate selection, so... My question is this: why (generally) are moth patterns so stable?
In birds, plumage plays a vital part in species recognition and mate selection, so aberrant birds are less likely to breed and plumage patterns tend to be stable.
In moths, most of the mate-finding is done in the dark. So, for example, if a male dark arches found a female with strange markings he wouldn't decide that she was 'wrong' and refuse to mate with her. This would, in theory, produce an increasing genetic variation in the patterns of black arches - and most other species. Yet this doesn't seem to happen in nature. I cannot imagine that camouflage alone would account for the relatively unvarying details in moth 'plumage'. A merveille du jour with the lichen-coloured markings in a different arrangement could still be perfectly comouflaged.
There's a PhD in this for some enterprising entomologist!!
Ken ]]> Frequently Asked Questions Ken Noble http://back-garden-moths.co.uk/community/showthread.php?13360-it-s-puzzled-me-for-ages