Bait Trapping 2020

[leptraps]

I thought I would try a new thread. Bait Trapping.

I already currently have 7 Bait Traps set out. One in my back yard, two in the Mantua Wetlands, one in a wooded area SE of my home in Aurora and two in the Grand River Wildlife Area.

I will report each time I check my traps.

[gaspipe]

Looking forward to it . It was 40 today windy and a combination of sleet and snow .

[leptraps]

The weather has been a tad chilly. Yesterday's high was 68°. Warmest day of the year to date.

I checked my Bait traps today, for the first time in several days. I found a dozen hibernating Butterflies in the bait traps. The majority were Nymphalis antiopa, several Polygonia and Vanessa Atlanta. There was a lot of moths, Zale's, Apamea, several Notodontids and a bunch wing worn, beat up Lithophane and Eupsilia.

As I hoofed back to my car, it began to rain. I mounted 37 moths from the Bait traps.

Tomorrow's high temp will be 70° and the over night low of 62°. Light Traps will be out tomorrow night.

[rjb]

In March my wife and I had just returned from a month in Australia and we drove out to Mojave National Preserve in southern CA to do a little volunteer work, installing barbed wire fence to keep out cattle.

I had planned to put out baited pitfalls (I know this isn’t the kind of baited traps Leroy is talking about) while we were camping there, but the weather looked too cold, so before leaving home I planted six pitfalls in our yard in Albuquerque. In the end we did some fine work, but the National Parks were trying to close down for the virus, so they pushed us out a day early.

Back at home I sorted the catch. I got 384 beetles, in 11 families, and 20 different species. I do lots of UV lighting in our yard but have rarely tried any pitfalls, so that big a haul was quite a surprise. The bait was just some fermenting mixed fruit and molasses. Since I mainly focus on tiny beetles, this was fun to sort through and I am trying a repeat now.

Rick

[bandrow]

Hi rjb,

Your "tiny beetles" comment caught my eye - please check your PM's...

Cheers!
Bandrow

[leptraps]

Between Bait Traps and Leptraps, I am a busy man. The night temperature in NE Ohio will be in the mid 70's. However, tonight's low temperature will be 34°.

I was out in the Grand River WMA Sunday afternoon. I collected a very nice series of Celastrina argiolus, including some females.

I shall return to the Grand River WMA today and set out some Bait Traps.

I also got my pheromone traps out and got them ready. I will have several out today, including some in my yard.

[leptraps]

I went into my back yard and checked my Bait Trap this AM. It had a stunning Notodontid: Tecmessa scitiscripta (7942). That is the first Notodontid I have ever collected in a Bait Trap and it is the first time I have ever collected it.

[leptraps]

Tomorrow, May 22, 1945 is a day to remember. I will be three quarters of a century old.

And, I am having dinner to night with a certain young lady.

I also learned today that a surprise birthday party is planned for Friday night.

I was ask what I wanted for my birthday. My response: A gorgeous 25 year old woman, who is extremely horny. I was told that a 25 year old would more than likely kill me.

My response??? Probably true. However, the undertaker could never get the smile off my face.

[Deleted]

Happy birthday may you have many many more

[leptraps]

I collected a huge European Hornet(??), in the Bait Trap in my back yard. I popped him in a killing jar and an hour after returning home, I made sure it was dead and stuck a pin in it.

I will photograph several of the stinging beasts I have collected in my Bait Traps. Maybe one of you can ID them.

[mothman27]

I'm getting my bait traps up for the year and currently waiting for a batch of bait to ferment.

[58chevy]

Happy birthday, Leroy. I'm glad somebody on this website is older than I am (71).

[leptraps]

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I read someplace that only 38% of the USA population of males lives to the the age of 75. That is three quarters of a century. Not to shabby for an old man.

I took down four of the seven Bait Traps I had set out. I cannot manage all of the specimens I have been collecting. The Bait Trap in my yard is not in the count. I took 14 specimens from this trap alone this AM and I spent over three hours spreading specimens this afternoon. I would estimate that over 50% of the specimens that I collect will be new to me.

I also found in and around my Light Traps about a dozen or more of Actias luna. I also found several specimens of Anisota virginiensis.

[leptraps]

Just checked the Bait Trap in my back yard. Found a stunning Acronicta funeralis, I have collected specimens in the Northern portion of Lower Peninsula of Michigan in 1994.

Vanessa atalanta is a very common butterfly in my Bait Traps. Another regular catch in Nymphalis antiopa. This species is super abundant in the Mantua Wetlands.

I am looking for Nymphalis vau-album. Does it occur near any of you? If so, when is it be on the wing? I would prefer larvae.

[Paul K]

I collected one specimen of N.vaualbum near Toronto but last year I saw few dead on the road I suppose killed by cars just across the lake from you near Long Point peninsula.
It was in mid July.
They are in two generations here, one overwinter and second in summer, similar to N.antiopa.
I would say that the species is rather uncommon in my area as I only saw it on few occasions.