antsrule
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Winter is killing me.
Posts: 38
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Post by antsrule on Jan 23, 2018 14:07:48 GMT -8
Reading this makes me long for spring, I got into the hobby in late summer and wasn't able to catch a ton. I did get a Luna though.
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Post by beetlehorn on Jan 24, 2018 13:32:59 GMT -8
After some very cold temps last week, we are seeing some relatively nice weather this week. I have seen several moths flying around my porch light recently. Having never collected any winter moths in the past I may give it a try this year. If I am successful, I'll post a few pics of spread specimens. Leroy's post has sparked a bit of inspiration.
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Post by joee30 on Jan 25, 2018 15:18:03 GMT -8
After some very cold temps last week, we are seeing some relatively nice weather this week. I have seen several moths flying around my porch light recently. Having never collected any winter moths in the past I may give it a try this year. If I am successful, I'll post a few pics of spread specimens. Leroy's post has sparked a bit of inspiration. Tom and Leroy, at least you have good luck with getting these guys. Here, it's been cold and dry, even though it seems winter in coming in later than normal. We had a bit of slush fall last night, but nothing else. The mountains got a good dusting. I do have some different types of bait ready to use this spring, but if the temps are reasonable, might start earlier. Then I have a trip to El Salvador in March.
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Post by beetlehorn on Feb 3, 2018 17:39:10 GMT -8
Here is a sample of moths I collected off my front porch light last week.
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antsrule
Junior Member
Winter is killing me.
Posts: 38
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Post by antsrule on Feb 4, 2018 14:09:33 GMT -8
I don't think I could catch anything this time of year in Pennsylvania.....
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Feb 4, 2018 15:33:52 GMT -8
You would be surprised. Daytime high temp 55+ and a night time low temp 45+. That is a good measure. I have set out light trap with a daytime high temp of 60+ and a 1AM temp of 45 and a 5AM temp of 35.
The daytime temp must reach 50+ before 1PM and a 5PM temp of 60 allows the moth a warm up. Even if the 3AM drops below freezing.
I have set a bait trail with 60+ at 10PM and collected many moths. One must remember, this is nature, you take what it gives you, and that includes moths.
Light Traps are my favorite method of collecting cold weather/winter moths. I like to sleep in a warm bed rather than stand in front of a sheet on a cool night and collect a few moths, especially deep in a forest.
I also deploy Kill Type Bait Traps. I only check them after a brief warm up.Although effective, they can be very frustrating. You can catch 50 moths in one trap and virtually nothing in the next trap.
It takes some effort to collect cold weather/winter moths. But you must be persistent as well. However, if you manage to collect specimens, you have some moths that very few others will have in their collection.
Have at em!!
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antsrule
Junior Member
Winter is killing me.
Posts: 38
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Post by antsrule on Feb 5, 2018 17:13:50 GMT -8
You would be surprised. Daytime high temp 55+ and a night time low temp 45+. That is a good measure. I have set out light trap with a daytime high temp of 60+ and a 1AM temp of 45 and a 5AM temp of 35. The daytime temp must reach 50+ before 1PM and a 5PM temp of 60 allows the moth a warm up. Even if the 3AM drops below freezing. I have set a bait trail with 60+ at 10PM and collected many moths. One must remember, this is nature, you take what it gives you, and that includes moths. Light Traps are my favorite method of collecting cold weather/winter moths. I like to sleep in a warm bed rather than stand in front of a sheet on a cool night and collect a few moths, especially deep in a forest. I also deploy Kill Type Bait Traps. I only check them after a brief warm up.Although effective, they can be very frustrating. You can catch 50 moths in one trap and virtually nothing in the next trap. It takes some effort to collect cold weather/winter moths. But you must be persistent as well. However, if you manage to collect specimens, you have some moths that very few others will have in their collection. Have at em!! I will give it a try as soon as my temps reach that, right now its been high of 40's day temp and 20's night temp. Did you make your traps, I have still been using bright light and sheet method, although I do like my way because it forces me to spend time outdoors. Although in the winter(I hate the Cold) it can be annoying.
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Post by catocala59 on Feb 6, 2018 8:01:20 GMT -8
After a bit of a thaw here in north central Washington over the last few days, when the daytime temperature has exceeded 10C and water has begun to flow in the nearby creek, I turned on my 40W actinic trap last night and was rewarded with the capture of 2 nice male Arctonotus lucidus. They were not in the trap at 19:00 hrs when I checked it, but both were there at 22:00 hrs. There is still a thin covering of snow over much of the surrounding hills and so I'm intrigued about where the females are laying at this time of year.
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Post by exoticimports on Feb 6, 2018 13:21:22 GMT -8
Hey, check out what's on that beetle, third photo where it's upside down! Looks like a louse of some sort. Chuck
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antsrule
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Winter is killing me.
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Post by antsrule on Feb 6, 2018 16:29:50 GMT -8
I believe that is a mite, my dung beetles were covered in them, they ride on the beetles to be transported from dung to dung to eat fly eggs and larvae. They do no harm to the beetle but can be annoying to clean them off if your trying to pin them.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Feb 6, 2018 16:38:32 GMT -8
Here is a sample of moths I collected off my front porch light last week. View AttachmentThe top four moths are Hypena scabra. Male on Left females on Right. Five moth: Chaetaglaea tremula Sixth moth: Eupsilia cirriplea Five and Six are nice moths.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Feb 6, 2018 16:49:25 GMT -8
Hey, check out what's on that beetle, third photo where it's upside down! Looks like a louse of some sort. Chuck I still Have the Beetle. It is a Mite, it is actually a Red Mite. I have found these on Butterflies and Moths, but it has been sometime since I have seen one. Many yeas ago someone, and I cannot remember who, did a lot of work on these mites. Now you are going to make me go look. I had that beetle in a box to go to someone who is a Coleopterist. I will hang onto it. (I cannot believe I am keeping a "Beetle".....)
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Feb 6, 2018 16:56:56 GMT -8
After a bit of a thaw here in north central Washington over the last few days, when the daytime temperature has exceeded 10C and water has begun to flow in the nearby creek, I turned on my 40W actinic trap last night and was rewarded with the capture of 2 nice male Arctonotus lucidus. They were not in the trap at 19:00 hrs when I checked it, but both were there at 22:00 hrs. There is still a thin covering of snow over much of the surrounding hills and so I'm intrigued about where the females are laying at this time of year. That is a rather rare moth, or so I have been told. Should you collect a few more, let me know and we will work out a trade. It’s actual name is Proserpinus lucidius. Every time some one sneezes, they change names around. It is a stunning moth.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Feb 6, 2018 17:02:05 GMT -8
I don't think I could catch anything this time of year in Pennsylvania..... Yes you can. As I said in another post on this topic, the daytime temp 50+ degrees, set out a light trap. If the overnight temp remains above 45 degrees you should collect some nice cold weather/winter moths.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Feb 6, 2018 17:05:18 GMT -8
night lighting for moths; my method; seat at bar close to windows with a cold one and a chili dog and a ball game. watch for moths or others at window. best wishes for new year. tom The only thing you will see or collect in a bar are "Bar Flies". And if you catch one of them, you could catch some crabs......
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