A new way to catch Catocalas

[multicaudata]

I've had a lot of Catocalas escape when I try to net them, and others have flapped around in my net and ended up with "bald" thoraxes. But I recently thought of a new way to catch them: spear them.

I use a size 4 insect pin from BioQuip, cut notches into it near the tip with scissors (the notches act as a barb), then tape it to the end of my net handle. I spear the Catocalas through the thorax (right where you would pin them), then immediately pinch them. Today I used this setup to spear a beautiful dark-morph Catocala irene, and got a near-perfect specimen with no balding on the thorax.

Has anyone tried this sort of thing before?

[ckswank]

I used to spear them and other moths at rest with a hypodermic needle with alcohol in it. If you miss, they're gone for good. I started thumping them with the back of my fingernail on the thorax. Too hard & they get slightly smashed & too light, they might fly away. I was pretty good at it when I was younger.

Charlie

[simosg]

Good idea, I will have a try. I have problems getting the Catocalas out of my bait trap without damages. Your method will not help here, because the net where they are sitting on there is to soft. For this problem I have the idea to spray them with cooling spray to immobilize them for a short time. I haven't tried it yet.

With some training you can use your handle with the needle like a spear and throw it to get the Catocalas on a long distance

Hannes

[ckswank]

Hannes - Yes, it only works if the moths are resting on a hard surface such as a wall or concrete parking lot. Maybe with a lot of practice I can master the art of throwing them like a spear! LOL Most of the time now I just pinch , package in a glassine envelope, & bring them home to freeze. That reminds me, I've got about 10 sandwich size containers to go through, before my wife gets totally ticked off at me!

Charlie