Trapping "Ground Dwelling" Nymphalids

[cabintom]

Just wondering if there is a different process for trapping Nymphalidae/Limenitinae (Euphaedra, Bebearia, Bicyclus, etc.) that like sticking to the ground? Do normal traps with banana bait work well? What about placement?

Thanks,
Tom

[Adam Cotton]

Put the trap in a shady place just above the ground and they will be attracted to the bait inside. It is important to hang the trap as low as possible but also not let any leaves, twigs etc touch the trap, otherwise ants will swarm all over it.

Here in SE Asia this is the way to catch many Nymphalidae, such as the Euthalia group species. Traps high in the trees don't catch the ground level species.

Adam.

[cabintom]

Thanks Adam. I hadn't thought of the ant issue... which makes it glaringly obvious I haven't been back in the jungle for over a year.

[africaone]

you can use the bananas traps on the ground in two ways
- with the wood plate (and bananas cup on) at ground level (even in shade areas)
- without the plates and mangoo or papayas on the ground as attractant

you can also put traps at man level under the forest (low trafic but sometimes with great surprise as some females are ombrophiles espacially when laying)

try fermented sugarcane in shade areas (different results than with bananas)

anyway ants will always be a problem, some places are more safe than others and system protection can be put on the cord that hangs the traps

[Adam Cotton]

"anyway ants will always be a problem, some places are more safe than others and system protection can be put on the cord that hangs the traps"

Indeed, it is a good idea to smear grease or some other deterrent on the rope which the trap hangs by, but if there is anything touching any part of the trap below the deterrent ants WILL find their way in to eat the goodies inside, and that includes the butterflies and moths themselves.

Adam.

[leptraps]

Mix a table spoon of vasoline with a table spoon of Tobasco Sauce, then add a teaspoon of Ground Red Pepper, mix throughly and apply to the rope that suspends the trap.

Nothing, absolutely nothing will enter the trap via the rope. I have found mice and ground squirrel under the trap wiggling,twisting and in shear pain from the "hot foot". Ants will not touch the rope, it is almost like they can sense the danger.

It does work.

[Adam Cotton]

"it is almost like they can sense the danger"

Not quite right - they can sense it!

Excellent recipe, luckily ground hot chili pepers are very easy to obtain here. I have been using axle grease to stop ants from climbing down the wire suspending my artificial feeders in my butterfly cages, but some of them just dance straight over it. Now I know what to add, thanks very much.

Adam.

[cabintom]

Sept 9, 2015 1:31:23 GMT -8 africaone said:

you can use the bananas traps on the ground in two ways
- with the wood plate (and bananas cup on) at ground level (even in shade areas)
- without the plates and mangoo or papayas on the ground as attractant

you can also put traps at man level under the forest (low trafic but sometimes with great surprise as some females are ombrophiles espacially when laying)

try fermented sugarcane in shade areas (different results than with bananas)

anyway ants will always be a problem, some places are more safe than others and system protection can be put on the cord that hangs the traps

Is there any specific way to prepare the mangoes/papayas and sugarcane? I mean, do I use old, but mostly whole mangoes? Or should I break them open? Same question for the sugarcane.

And thanks! These are great suggestions that I will definitely try.

Tom

[cabintom]

I've generally been using a very thin line (like a heavy string of sorts). Would this help keep ants off? It's not at all wide, so I believe medium to large ants would not be able to climb down it... but I haven't hung traps in the forest enough to know whether or not this is true.

[Adam Cotton]

"It's not at all wide, so I believe medium to large ants would not be able to climb down it"

No it's not true. Large ants can crawl down even thin sewing thread easily.

Adam.

[jshuey]

Sept 10, 2015 8:52:47 GMT -8 cabintom said:

I've generally been using a very thin line (like a heavy string of sorts). Would this help keep ants off? It's not at all wide, so I believe medium to large ants would not be able to climb down it... but I haven't hung traps in the forest enough to know whether or not this is true.

It's not perfect, but I use light weight monofilament fishing line that attaches to my traps. It probably keeps ants out more than 90% of the time. The photo attached is pretty bad - but shows how I replace the hanger of the traps with fish line, and then just use cotton string to actually hang the trap. I honestly can't remember that last time I had an ant problem that wasn't the obvious result of the trap body touching a limb or leaf (and providing a way into the trap for the ants).

John