Moth Trapping
Moth trapping at Croft Close Nature Reserve
Over 350 species of moth have been recorded at the Nature Reserve between May 2022 and November 2024. The list which includes several notable species is here.
During summer 2022 we ran moth traps at Croft Close Nature Reserve on a suitable calm warm night each month from May to August. Trapping was repeated in June and July 2023 and in June 2024. In addition, notably in October and November, leaves were examined for traces of leaf mining moth larvae; some species can be identified by their distinctive tracks in the leaves.
On most occasions we had two traps, both located in the centre of the site among the grass and low scrub.
On our best night, in June 2022, we trapped 160 species; July that year was not far behind at 133 species.
Some of the moths we have trapped have not often been recorded in the Cambridgeshire “Vice county”. (This vice county is the “old” Cambridgeshire – so excludes the areas that formerly were in Huntingdonshire.) Around a dozen are either Nationally Scarce or considered likely to appear in the Red Data Book.
A gallery of some of the moths trapped at the Nature Reserve is here.
If you want to know more
Both the Cambs Moths and the UK Moths websites have additional information and pictures.
The Cambs Moths website has a page showing moths active by day or easily disturbed from their daytime resting places.
Butterfly Conservation is another source of useful information as are the Wildlife Trusts.
Our equipment
Specialist equipment has been developed for the safe and efficient trapping of moths. The key part is a light which emits a high proportion of the UV radiation which is attractive to moths.
Because this UV has the potential to damage our eyes, those working with moth traps use special safety spectacles which filter out the UV component.
To learn more about moth trapping, see this nhbs blog .
Do you have any records?
We have no historical records of the moths at either Croft Close Nature Reserve or Long Meadow prior to 2022. Should anyone have records, please contact sitemangers@abbeyfields.online .
We would also welcome additional records from 2022 onwards. Please share any information you have as this will feed into how we manage both the Nature Reserve and Long Meadow.
You can also add your records from both sites and elsewhere to the County Database through the Cambs Moths website to help produce distribution maps and abundance data. Alternatively you can submit records through iRecord.