leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Oct 19, 2017 8:49:43 GMT -8
I get lot's of Lithophane and some Eupsilia and Metaxaglaea in "Kill Type" Bait traps. I use cut up apples, sugar and water. Because I leave them out for extended periods and check them every four or five days. I get some,not many, in Flat Bottom and Slotted Pan Type Bait Traps.I am it the process of making 6 more Kill Type Bait Traps for next year.
I want to collect more in Whitley, McCreary, and Rockcastle counties in southern Kentucky. Kill Type bait traps are better suited as they do not need to be checked as often. The down side. I must spread lots of moths.
The best trap for Eupsilia and Metaxaglaea are Light Traps. Several years ago I designed and built a Long Term Kill Type Light Trap. Just like a regular light trap except it sits on a plastic 55 gallon drum. I used Cyanide for a killing agent and used a Solar panel system to recharge the Battery.
The MAJOR draw back, thousands of moths. And I mean thousands!!
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 1, 2017 10:10:36 GMT -8
You guys are probably getting tired of my reports and journey's to collect Lepidoptera. The post below is also on my Face Book page. However, I included some photographs of Lepidoptera and other insects I collected in my Light Traps. I have been conducting a Moth Survey on the Morgan State Forest in Monroe County, Indiana and the Yellowwood State Forest in Brown County, Indiana. The forest are connected to each other at the County Line Monroe/Brown. I have visited the area, approximated 9,900 Acers, twenty (25) time since beginning the survey on 25 April 2017. I set out four (4) to Six (6) Light Traps during each visit. I also deployed twenty four (24) Pheromone Traps for Sessid Moths, Bait Traps Live Catch for Butterflies and Moths, and Bait Traps Kill Type for cold weather moths. I use two specific areas in the forest. The Low Gap area ½ mile east of the Low Gap Trail Head Parking area off Low Gap Road and the Possum Trot Trail in the Yellowwood State Forest. These are old forest of 150 years. Over forty years of Light Trapping experience I have found many things, in my traps, on my traps around my traps and under my traps. I have found birds picking off the moths on the traps and the surrounding shrubbery and grass, a large Rattle snake curled up around the Ballast Enclosure (The Ballast Assembly produces heat when in use.) enjoying the warmth from the ballast. Collecting moths with my Light Traps has been a never ending adventure into God’s great creation. Each time I experience something new, I think that I have seen it all. This past Monday morning was once of those days. We (Ms Betty and I) drove up to Indiana after church on Sunday, set out three (3) Light Traps in the Morgan State Forest in the Low Gap area and three (3) Light Traps in Yellowwood State Forest along the Possum Trot Trail. We overnighted in Martinsville about 20 miles north west of the Morgan State Forest. We had diner at Indy’s, a family style restaurant, great food at a fair price. Should you ever venture to Martinsville, stop at Indy’s for a meal. Tell them the Moth Man recommended it. Monday morning we awoke to a slow drizzle that came and went. I recovered the Light Traps at Low Gap, sorted them and recorded the contents, then began to travel to Yellowwood State Forest. As we arrived at the Possum Trop Trail, the heavens opened up and down it came. By the time I recovered the first of two light traps I was soaked to the skivvy’s. As I went to the last Light Trap, the rain stopped. I disconnected the Ballast Assembly from the trap vanes as I began to disconnect the Ballast from the Battery I discovered two Box Tortoises feasting on the moths and other insects that were on the Light Traps and the surrounding vegetation. As you can see in the photograph, they had been enjoying a feast of moths and other bugs. I have never seen Box Tortoises in late October before much less eating insects. It was a pleasant surprise. Light Trap with Box Totioises I did collect some very interesting moths. I needed to change into dry clothes. We began our journey back to Georgetown, Kentucky, I stopped at an old abandon gas station with a pump area cover in Bean Blossom, Indiana. (I am not making this up, there is a Bean Blossom in Brown County where SR45 and SR135 cross.) I dried off and change into dry clothes. We decided to stop in Gnaw Bone, Indiana for coffee at the Gnaw Bone Coffee House. More on Gnaw Bone later. We arrived back in Georgetown to some spectacular cloud formations and then two full days of rain. Light Trap #1 Light Trap #2 Light Trap #3 Light Trap #4 Light Trap #5 Road Sign for Gnaw Bone, Indiana. Road Sign for Bean Blossom, Indiana
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Post by T.C. on Nov 1, 2017 11:36:40 GMT -8
I haven't logged in here for months, but I have still been reading this. I am far from tired of your reports. Keep showing please. Very impressive leptraps.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2017 15:14:13 GMT -8
How in the world are you still getting catocala???
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 2, 2017 2:47:28 GMT -8
I have collected Catocala moths in November, however, once there is a 8+ hour hard freeze, that is usually the end. We had the hard freeze two (2) nights in a row,Oct 30 & Oct 31. However, one never knows. While living in Mississippi, I collected several in late November and I even collected one on December 3 1995.
I still have six (6) Bait Traps hanging here in Scott County, KY. I leave one in my yard and one along North Elk Horn Creek all year. Too many Lepidopterist call it quits once October arrives. I have never collected any butterflies or moths in the falling snow. But I have been known to go into the woods and lift the bark of trees to look for Lithophane and other cold weather moths.
However, I prefer to sit by our fire place and read a good book and pop in a couple easy listening music CD's when it is cold and snow is falling!!
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 3, 2017 16:30:16 GMT -8
I have been reporting my collecting activities all summer and fall with some photographs of my keepers. The photo's included some beetles, flies, wasps, walking sticks and other ugly bugs. No one, and I mean no one ask me what I did with all of these miscellaneous bugs. Until today.
Not mentioning any names, be he got over 400+ field pinned beetles and over 100 field pinned wasps.
The flies are also spoken for as of today.
Remember this for next season.
In 2016 no ask and I donated them to the University of Kentucky.
If I kill it, I find a home for it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2017 17:58:24 GMT -8
"If I kill it, I find a home for it." Good man leptraps......I completely concur. Now as to your jokes.......no comment.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 30, 2017 13:28:33 GMT -8
I have begun to empty my spreading boards from September and October. These are mostly Papaipema moths an Acronicta lithospila, Lithophane petulca and a Apamea indocilis (?). Not quite sure on that last one. Once I put these away tonight, I will remove more from my spreading boards.
Double click image to enlarge.
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Post by T.C. on Nov 30, 2017 13:36:52 GMT -8
You sir, put my collection to shame.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 1, 2017 1:22:29 GMT -8
At the moment, I have 52 full spreading boards in my cabinet. Depending on what I mount I can have as many as 84 and as few 36. I use the most spreading for Noctuids moths. I leave specimens on the spreading boards for a minimum of 30 days. My work room contains some of my collection cabinets and my spreading board drying cabinet. I keep the room at 74 degrees and 5% humidity with a dehumidifier. I have never been a big fan of drying ovens. I am in no hurry, I prefer "all natural". Compared to others I am a rather slow when it come to spreading specimens at 10 to 12 an hour.
I just works for me. I do my best spreading when there is snow on the ground and it is bitter cold. Spreading specimens while devouring some of Momma's Honey Pound Cake with a glass of cold milk makes for a pleasant afternoon's work. Black coffee is good too. All in a days work.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 14, 2017 8:40:07 GMT -8
Wow! That's a haul of Papaipema. I went out for probably the final time with my MV light but had little luck with new species. It was very nice out but the damn wind was too much and pickings were slim. I saw a few impeciunosa, several inquaesita, and one eupatorii Best moth was Lemmeria digitata. Here is my haul of Papaipema this year. I think I have 7 species here? I checked out your Lemmeria digits is a gorgeous moth. I have not collected it.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 16, 2017 17:45:10 GMT -8
Wow! That's a haul of Papaipema. I went out for probably the final time with my MV light but had little luck with new species. It was very nice out but the damn wind was too much and pickings were slim. I saw a few impeciunosa, several inquaesita, and one eupatorii Best moth was Lemmeria digitata. Here is my haul of Papaipema this year. I think I have 7 species here? I went and copied your photograph and then I forgot to respond. Forgetting comes with age, I think. First Row, bottom specimen: Papaipema pterisii (There is a new species about to be described from New England that is very similar. We must wait on the publication. Second row, bottom specimen is part of the Papaipema birdi complex. Again it is part of the paper mentioned above that will be published .
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Post by trehopr1 on Dec 16, 2017 21:19:09 GMT -8
What species of moths are the following: 3rd column (bottom) and 4th column (2nd from bottom / slate grey fw). They are not Papaipema and you only caught 1 of each. Are they both tough species to get or were they picked up early or late in their season?
Was wondering if the spreading work that you do on moths this size is pretty much "fresh pinning" - so to speak. I cannot imagine papering up stuff this size and then trying to work with it. When I do keep moths this size (and that's only here and there); they really have to catch my eye in the first place and I have to work em' up within a few short hours or I just wreck em'. And they are never as pliable when relaxed as when freshly dispatched. Just curious....
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Dec 18, 2017 12:06:40 GMT -8
What species of moths are the following: 3rd column (bottom) Lithophane petulca (9889) 28 September 2017 and 4th column (2nd from bottom / slate grey fw). Acronicta lithosapila (9366) 2 September 2017
They are not Papaipema and you only caught 1 of each. Are they both tough species to get or were they picked up early or late in their season? I collected several of each species. I collected 9 more Lithophane petulca on 15 November 2017. These were all collected in Light Traps. These moths are not common, however, they are interesting species and few Lepidopterists put forth the effort to collect them.
Cold weather moths can be very difficult to collect in November, January, December and early February. I was out in Daniel Boone National Forest on Saturday looking under tree bark for Lithophane moths. I found one each of Lithophane bethunei and Lithophane grotei and six (6)of Lithophane antennata which is a very common Lithophane. I will post some photographs when they come off my spreading boards.
Latter tonight or early tomorrow I will remove moths from six (6) spreading that I collected in October and November. I have had virtually nothing in any of my traps for several days now. With the high temps in the low 40,s and low's in the teens, there is not much flying.
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Post by leptraps on Feb 6, 2018 17:27:13 GMT -8
Wow! That's a haul of Papaipema. I went out for probably the final time with my MV light but had little luck with new species. It was very nice out but the damn wind was too much and pickings were slim. I saw a few impeciunosa, several inquaesita, and one eupatorii Best moth was Lemmeria digitata. Here is my haul of Papaipema this year. I think I have 7 species here? I checked out your Lemmeria digits is a gorgeous moth. I have not collected it. I was working in my collection today and discovered that I do have Lemmeria digitata. I collected them in 2008 in NE Illinois while we were living in Watseka, IL.
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