diy skinner moth trap
This was the first trap I made using a collapsable heavy duty crate from B&Q at a cost of £5.98 along with a couple of 25mm electrical conduit equal "T" pieces at £0.48 each and attached using heavy duty velcrose. These are positiond so as to give a suitable slope and 25mm gap when the perspex panels are installed. The insulation/masking tape stuck to the sides of the crate are there to block the preformed holes and prevent moths escaping.
Two pieces of clear perspex were cut to size by scoring with a Stanley Knife and snapping over the corner of my work surface. The perspex was some I managed to "cadge" from a friendly customer. I have seen other trap designs which utilise pieces of plywood for this purpose. Wether there are any benefits to using either perspex or plywood, I cannot say.
If using the B&Q box the length of the perspex/plywood panels required is 495mm. However, any "box" of a similar size can be used and all that is necessary is for the perspex/plywood panels to be a snug fit.
For the first trap I made, the electrics were purchased from Paul Batty complete with the batten mounted lamp holder and bulb. The batten was attached to the box using heavy duty velcrose.
For subsequent traps I have made up my own electrical control boxes.
The trap has been used in my back garden and has proved succesful. A good number of the photographs which appear Macrolepidoptera were taken of moths trapped this way.
If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me via my contact page.