The study has come to occupy a large percentage of the time we now spend out in the field and has expanded since 2008 to include regular trapping sessions within the Sherwood Forest area, whilst daylight gathering of records occurs anywhere.

Observing and recording moths can become inherently addictive to anyone with an interest in natural history - a fact that I can testify to. It is also an important and still largely neglected occupation. Although Nottinghamshire is generally well-covered as a whole, with an increasing number of people recording moths, there is still a lot of work to be done to create an accurate picture of the county's micro lepidoptera.

There are many ways which people can observe or attract moths. Day-flying species are relatively easy to observe in the correct habitat, but species variety is quite restricted. More species start flying during the late evening period before it gets dark and these can be netted for identification purposes and then released. Quite a number of the records we gather during the year, involve moths found at rest on tree trunks, fences and walls. In fact, two out of Eakring's three Red Underwing records, came courtesy of the local pub wall. Moths can also be found in the early stages of their life-cycle as caterpillars or pupae on their respective foodplants.

Sugaring is another method of attracting adult moths, but not a method we have ever tried. A mixture of Black Treacle and Red Wine, is boiled together and left to cool, then painted in strips on fence posts and tree trunks etc. Apparently it works better during the Autumn and early Spring.

Putting a name to any moth one comes across is not always easy and there are currently well over 2000 species of moths in the UK. Back in 2003 I believed that the Eakring and Kersall area should comfortably hold around 400 - 500 different species of both micro and macro moths. Currently (2012) the area list stands at just over 650 species. Progress was slow up until 2003, when I began to trap moths with the aid of a portable camping lantern.

Before the availability of an MV light, I spent much time looking around for a portable (and suitable) light to at least make some progress in attracting more species than had been possible previously. Initial trials using a portable, battery operated lantern made by Coleman, an American-based company, were successful. The lantern used two 4 watt .6" standard flourescent tubes, powered by a rechargeable battery, which (the makers claim) can be recharged up to 1000 times before replacement. The whole lantern is encased inside a tough perspex cover, providing either 180 or 360 degree lighting and allows single or double bulb use. The lantern can run for six hours operating both bulbs, or nine hours running a single bulb. It's also light-weight, easily portable and the £30 price is little in comparison to the expense of portable MV set-ups. It is certainly a set up that could be recommended for someone completely new to the hobby.

Trials continued throughout the year and trapping with such a light certainly proved to be successful, with well over 1000 moths attracted during the course of the year. Although nightly trapping counts were small in comparison to the greater potential of an MV light, it was still a big step forward into discovering just what species the area's habitats held.

Moth-trapping with an MV light

2004 saw even greater steps into attracting and identifying the moths here; with the building of a 125W mercury vapour light trap.

The MV trap we use is a simplified model of the one initially made back in 2003. Full details of how to make your own light trap, can be found at the link below.