1Most moths are noctural creatures, appearing at dusk when the likelihood of predators is reduced. Most moth recording techniques therefore involve venturing outside in the darkness. For many people, the idea of wandering around a wood in the dark can be a scary prospect, certainly not one to be attempted alone. Stepping outside your back door, however, and sitting on your own patio watching the night wild-life is a safe and secure hobby - this is the beauty of back-garden mothing.

There are various techniques for attracting moths - light traps, sugaring, pheromones. This section of the website aims to give details of each of the methods including handy hints and tips.

Moths are thought to use the light of the moon to navigate their way through their habitat. Essentially, they try to keep the moon on one side while they fly in a reasonably straight path. If an artificial light is situated in their path, they get confused and attempt to use the artificial light to navigate by. This leads to the moths flying round in ever-decreasing circles until they reach the light source itself. This is the reason why moths found inside your house are usually flapping around the light fitting.

Light traps are particularly successful ways of recording moth populations in different habitats. The traps are designed so that once a moth has reached the light source it is safely contained until ready to be identified. Generally speaking, most moth species are attracted to UV light as well as wavelengths at the purple/blue part of the spectrum. The two main types of lights used for moth recording are mercury-vapour (MV) lamps or actinic tubes. Light traps can range from a simple light suspended on a tripod above a white sheet, to a contained box-design. Light traps can be easily self-made or bought from entomological specialists. Full details of these are shown in the Light Traps section.