How to Join In
Step 1: FIRST, CATCH YOUR MOTHS!
Finding moths is easy! Try the following:
Everyone knows moths are attracted to lights at night, so after dusk:
- leave on an outside light (low energy bulbs work just as well);
- open your curtains with a light on and see what lands on the window pane; this works
even if you don’t have a garden!
- leave the bathroom window open with a light on for a few hours before you go to
bed and see what comes in (it’s best to keep the door shut);
- hang a white sheet in the garden and leave a strong torch shining on it.
Did you know that many moths also come to flowers to feed on nectar, like butterflies?
- go out with a torch to look for moths feeding on flowers at dusk;
- use our simple recipe (see below) to make artificial nectar to paint on tree trunks
or fence posts at dusk (children will love doing this).
Some moths fly around in the day and are mistaken for butterflies, so
- look in the daytime too - a net can be useful!
You should avoid handling the moths (and caterpillars). It is useful to have small
containers to put them in while you identify them – transparent pots or jam jars
are ideal. Be sure to release them as soon as you have identified them.
You can download more help with finding
moths (including the nectar recipe).
Step 2: IDENTIFY YOUR MOTHS:
There are many species of moths in the UK, but Garden Moths Count is focussing on
just 20 garden species which occur in most parts of the country and are easy to
recognise. To help you we have provided a Moths Gallery
to look at on screen, or print off as a handy identification
guide.
Step 3: SEND US YOUR SURVEY RESULTS
Garden Moths Count is complete for 2009 and you can view the results for this
year and previous years: