What is Your Best Bait for Catocala?

[leptraps]

I have seen some extensive lists of Catocala moths on this site. If you have one of these lists, is it from a single night or is it over a period of time?

Some of these lists are very impressive.

I have been using four (4) Bait Traps (Kill Type) at the Killdeer WA. To date I have record 21 species of Catocala. Some of the Larger species have yet to make an appearance here in North East Ohio. Especially those with Black Hindwings.

What do you use for bait in your Bait Traps.Traps? Or to you paint trees for a Bait Trail? Or do you use Bait Traps? If yes, what type of Bait Trap?

This is my first full year of collecting in North East Ohio. I would like to increase the numbers of Catocala I collect. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Deleted]

I’ve done traps w limited success.....may be my fault....idk. I combine exercise with collecting and ‘paint trees’. In new areas I use deer hunting tacks to mark the slopped trees. I do this for two reasons....first to, of course, know which trees (usually between 20-40) I sugared/painted/slopped. Also, if I know I slopped a tree bc of the reflective tack, I can slow my pace and very quietly approach the baited tree and, hopefully, not disturb feeding Cats. My bait is usually mashed ripe bananas with sugar and yeast......sometimes w added mashed apples/peaches. After I ferment 5g buckets of this slop, I take and use my Ninja Blender to blend up the chunks making a thick gooey paste-like slop into my more portable field two gallon bucket that really does two things.....it soaks into the wood and the paste texture really fills the tree trunk bark grooves w slop. As a result, I have fewer chunks of fruit falling off the trees and visiting raccoons take longer at one tree, thus not messing with too many other trees. Before, I’d use a chunky mix and that was too easy for the coons to feast on.

I’ve read many of your tricks/suggestions for traps, but still have visitor problems (human or raccoon or hymenoptera). Wind and rain can be a bother too. I just have not had the good numbers/results some others here have w traps and safe places to set up a trap seem so limited. Yes, the drawback to painted trees is one has to commit a few hours to walking the tree route. I will add, though, that walking up to each tree is very anticipatory in nature......so many surprises pop up. My two Witch Moths (IL), my one T. xenobia (IL) and other goodies have stopped by for a snack Be careful slopping in bear country....bears like fermented bananas too. In northern WI, I actually clip two bells on my pants which make me sound like Tinkerbell/Santa, but the bells also help me avoid surprising a bear. Sometimes I set up my lights and do sugaring. Taking a break from walking means a sit break at the lights.

Last year in western TN, I had my lights up and running with nearly no Cats. Bored, though I was, I slopped a few trees in the vicinity just for the heck of it. Half an hour later I started seeing Cats on the slop. In two hours, I got a nice maestosa, couple of amatrix, and 8 carissimas. None of these Cats came to my lights, but I sure was glad I had some slop w me.

[leptraps]

I have never liked using bait smeared on trees. I always thought I had better luck with bait traps. And, I enjoyed a good night's sleep and I let the Bait Traps do their job.

I am going take a few steps back and try a couple of bait trails. I may learn a thing or two, maybe nine or ten.....

You guys collect more species of Catocala in one night than I do all year.

However, many places that I use Bait Traps, there are not enough trees for bait trails. I shall try some bait trails in the very never future.

What are your recipes for the bait that you use on bait trails?

I will visit Killdeer WA next week and I will try a Bait Trail.

[Deleted]

Yeh, but you’ve gotten some goodies. C. antinymphas, semirelictas, and others. Your getting S. gallii is something I’ve never yet come across. My recipe is listed above. Btw.....I’ve never caught C. semirelicta either.

[rayrard]

Bait traps are fine but I am allergic to wasp stings and those damn things are all over bait traps when I've tried using them. Dozens of damn yellowjackets/bald-faced hornets and maybe a few Catocala being harassed by them. Bait is notoriously hit and miss, especially early season. My bait that works great in Sept will be garbage in late July. I am an extreme night owl so light sheets and bait trails work best. I will put out buckets but will grab them on the way out of my sheeting location.

I use bananas/mollasses/brown sugar bait, with sometimes peaches and apples thrown in. I will only use beer if I am using the bait within a week. Otherwise no alcohol.

[bugboys3]

I use the same mix as Bill. My list is from the entire season but from one location. My Leptraps bait trap in the back yard. I am fortunate to have quite a
few different species of native trees in my wooded yard.