Moth trapping for beginners

The wonderful world of moths can easily be explored from the comfort of your own garden, and you don’t need any fancy equipment or expert knowledge. Here we share our top tips for getting started with moth trapping and uncover some of the beautiful species you might discover in your patch.

What is moth trapping?

Put simply it involves attracting moths to a light source, or food source, so you can take a closer look at them, or if you’re a serious moth-er, record the species. Despite the use of the word ‘trap’ it’s completely humane and doesn’t harm the moths in anyway if you take care and be sure not to touch their delicate wings.

Why trap?

While day flying moths can be a dazzling array of colours and markings, it’s worth making the effort to find out what’s flying after dark. Moth trapping allows you to do just that, and it’s easy to become absorbed in the minute details of each one you find. From stunning bright canary-yellow, ghostly white or luminous green to the more understated grey/brown moths, there are so many. It’s a really fun and exciting activity to see how many show up, a bit like opening a surprise gift! You don’t have to worry about identifying them if you just want to have a closer look, you can just do this. However, you could also have a go at identifying them... You might find it’s easier than you realise. The advancement of technology and AI can give us species suggestions within seconds, you just need a smart phone or camera capable of taking clear, in focus photos to be able to get an accurate identification.

It’s a whole other world and a fun way to discover nature on your doorstep! It’s a great activity for the whole family – I guarantee any young nature-lovers will be fascinated by the beautiful moths living right outside their house.

What you might see

The moths you might see will vary according to where in Staffordshire you live, and what the surrounding habitat is like. For example, if you live near woodlands you might see different moths to someone who lives next to a grassland. However, certain moths are really common right across the county and may well visit your trap. Here are some of the most common moths flying in Staffordshire during August. If you're trapping at another time of year, or want to find out what else could be flying where you are tonight, there's a handy website that can tell you! Just head to https://connect-apps.ceh.ac.uk/whats_flying_tonight/ Please note you will need to enable location access and this is an external website not connected to SWT.

A gingery brown moth with hooked wing ends and dark pebble-like markings on it's upper wing, it sits on a brick — Pepple hook-tip moth by Ken Swan

Pebble hook-tip: This is the largest and most common of the British hook-tips with a wingspan of 34-42mm. It has a central grey pebble-like spot on the centre of each forewing and a purple/grey blotch near the wing tip. The hindwing is usually paler than the forewing and can be seen when it’s resting with its wings splayed out. It likes woodland, heathland, gardens and other habitats where birch are found.

Light emerald: This pale green moth has wingspan of around 30-40mm and flies from June to August. It has a hooked forewing tip with a blood-red tip to the forewing, sometimes extending as a line along the outer edge of both fore and hindwings. They like broadleaved woodland, areas with scattered trees, scrub, hedgerows and can often be found in parks and gardens.

Chinese character: This moth cleverly camouflages itself to avoid being eaten... By disguising itself to look like bird poo! At rest, it holds its white, brown and grey wings steeply over its body. It has a wingspan of 18-22mm and has two generations in the year, May and June, then again in August, when the adults can be attracted by light. They like hedgerows, scrub and open woodland as well as gardens.

A bright green moth with red/brown edged upper wings resting on wood — Brimstone moth - Ken Swan

Brimstone: An unmistakable yellow moth with chestnut-brown markings on the tips and along the leading edge of the forewings. They also have a white crescent or dash near to the leading forewing edge. They can frequently be seen on the wing just before dusk and they are regularly attracted to light. They like hedgerows, garden, scrub and woodland.

How to moth trap at home

Now for the fun part! There are a few different ways you can make a DIY moth trap at home.

Moth traps are available to buy online and while they’re a great option if you’re serious about getting into moth recording, they aren’t really intended for families who only want to watch moths every now and then. Here are three options for those who want to dip their toe into moth trapping!

1. Try a wine rope lure

A slightly messy (but fun) way to trap! Certain moths are more attracted to sugary treats than lights. You simply soak an old cloth in a mixture of cheap red wine and sugar, hang the strips over your washing line or some branches, and check them for visitors after a couple of hours.

2. Create a light trap

The cheapest and easiest option is to create a light trap. All you need is a white sheet and a bright lamp or torch. Peg the sheet onto your washing line, turn off nearby lights, switch your torch on and shine the light onto the sheet and wait patiently!

Two step-by-step guides to moth watching with illustrations showing a rope being dipped in wine and a white sheet being hung on a washing line

3. Make a bucket moth trap

Those who want to spend a little more time prepping to trap can consider making a budget bucket moth trap. Our friends at Butterfly Conservation have compiled a comprehensive guide which you can find here:

https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/east-scotland-branch/budget-bucket-moth-trap

Top tips for beginners

Download a free identification app like iNaturalist, Seek or iRecord
Or invest in an ID guide to help you identify the moths you attract. Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland is a great place to start, while Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland is chunkier and for the more serious moth-er.
Choose a warm still night with decent cloud cover.
Consider the type of light/torch you use. Brighter lights attract more moths but might annoy your neighbours! Actinic light is best, which is a high-colour-temperature blue light.
Don’t just rely on your trap… You could go on a moth safari with your family or friends. Head out with a torch at night to check your windows, walls and plants for moths!
Avoid touching moths' delicate wings directly as you can easily damage them.
Attract moths to your garden by planting pollinator-friendly plants. Jasmine, honeysuckle, buddleia and fuchsia are all favourites and are also loved by other insects.
Avoid trapping every night, especially in small gardens, as it can stop moths from going about their normal behaviours like feeding and mating.

We hope you found this guide to moth trapping for beginners useful. Happy trapping! Why not share your finds with us on Facebook or X? Click the icons below to ‘Like’ or follow us. You can also find us on Instagram here @staffswt