Frequently Asked Questions [faqs]
This site contains a great deal of information and sometimes it is necessary to provide a few hints on how to do and find stuff, along with some general moth-ing queries – here are a few below……
On the home page go to the Recording Tab/Button – Image Uploader – click Select File – this will take you to your own image gallery where you can select the image or images you want to send in. Fill in your name / Email address and a message – Click Upload button. This will send the image/s to the site and generate an Email notification to the website that an image has been sent in. That’s it – Easy…
There is still work being undertaken behind the scenes, especially with the Micros) – It’s your website, so please use it as a resource for Derbyshire Moths, to send in your images and your notifications of rare, scarce, migrants and unusual moth sightings. Your moth images are important to help build the site and to enable the records and data base to grow. Your images are also important to help with identification of species and to keep species records up to date. We hope the website will become a useful resource, effectively like a big library book, for all our Derbyshire “Moth-ers” to use, contribute to, be involved in and more importantly, to enjoy.
VC57 is the Vice County recording area for Derbyshire. It is different to the modern Derbyshire administrative boundary. All county’s have there own VC (Vice County) recording area. See the map in the side bar and click on it to open up a larger version.
As with all types of wildlife, moths should be treated and cared for with respect. Moth trapping is a great way to see these creatures. It is humane and if care is taken, it causes no harm whatsoever to the insect. The charity Butterfly Conservation offers the following as guidelines for moth enthusiasts to follow:
• Avoid touching moth’s wings as they can easily be damaged.
• Carefully put moths in dry, clear plastic/glass pots for closer examination.
• To dislodge moths into containers, give the egg tray or whatever they are sitting on, a sharp tap or use a pencil to gently and carefully lift each moth.
• Only put one moth into container/pot and ensure it is large enough for the moth to move freely.
• If moths become active in the container, cool them down in the fridge/cool box for a short time – calming them, but release within 24- 48hrs while they are identified.
• Release the moths in dense or long vegetation, out of sight of birds, ideally at dusk and regularly change your release site.
• Check the moth trap as early as possible in the morning, before birds arrive, or alternatively cover it with a sheet to avoid predation.
• Consider not trapping on successive nights as this minimises repeated disturbance to local moths.
• Avoid leaving your moth trap in the sun.
The total number of Macro Moths that have been recorded and accepted in Derbyshire currently stands at 576 – (February 2025)
There are 29 species of Macro Moth on the checklist that are now thought to be extinct in the VC57 and in Derbyshire.
The total number of Micro Moths that have been recorded and accepted in Derbyshire currently stands at 882 – (February 2025)
Both checklists can be accessed by clicking on the CHECKLIST TAB.
As most Moth species are largely nocturnal in their habits, we seldom come into contact with Moths, except perhaps at the kitchen window, in our car headlights, whilst gardening, or by way of the small little brown “Clothes Moths” usually found in the house.
The best way to learn more about these fascinating insects is through the use of a Moth Trap. By using a special Mercury Vapour Light Bulb or Actinic Light Bulb orTube, coupled with a square wooden box and some egg trays, Moths are attracted to the ultraviolet light and fall into the Trap-Box where they remain roosting until the next morning. Once the Moths have been trapped they can be photographed and identified to species before being released safely and unharmed back into the garden.
Moth Trapping is a fascinating and very addictive hobby and has become an increasingly popular hobby. An awful lot of interesting information is now being gathered about the distribution and habits of Moths in the UK. Some species are in rapid decline, whilst others that were once rare, have now re-colonised areas and are on the increase. Moths also migrate and it is only by the use of Moth Traps that this phenomenon has been discovered. It is only through people trapping Moths and sending in their records to local Butterfly and Moth Societies, that this evidence in the increase and decline of species is being recognised.
In Britain there are approximately 2,500 species of Moths and Butterflies that have been recorded and all but around 50 are Moths. To acquire a thorough knowledge of all the species requires time, enthusiasm and dedication, however don’t be put off, above all the aim is to have fun and many species can be trapped in ones own garden! There are several good books on Moth identification and no end of information on the Internet.
Most Moths are on the wing in their adult form, between March and October. The most productive period is between May to late August. It is interesting to discover that different species fly at different times of the year so species on the wing in April to May are not seen again until the following year.
Moths are very often colourful and attractive insects and are not the boring and dull brown things that most people would imagine. Wait until you catch an Elephant Hawkmoth, then you will realise what I mean!
For more information on Moth Traps contact Anglia Lepidoptera.
Most nectar plants that attract butterflies will also attract moths, both by day and by night. Dusking Ivy blossom, Buddleia, Honeysuckle and other fragrant flowers, with a torch, early evening, often provides results. Wine Ropes are also another good option to attract moths. A bottle of cheap red wine, 1kg of sugar and about a metre length of untreated thick cord or light rope, made from absorbent material (several lengths) is all that is needed. Heat the wine and sugar in a pan and allow to cool. Then soak the rope or cord in the sticky mixture. Drape the ropes or cords over low branches or on small bushes just before dusk. Some of the mixture can be brushed onto tree trunks. Wait for an hour or so and then search for moths by torch light.