Challenge 21: Make a light trap to attract moths

Points available: 3

About the challenge

Explore nature at night. Make a light trap from an old sheet to attract moths to your garden or go on a bat walk with a local expert.

Moth researchers use a specialist light trap to attract moths and insects so they can be identified and then released without harming them.

You can attract moths to a spot in the garden by hanging up a white sheet and shining a bright torch or light onto it. The moths will be attracted to the sheet and you can look at all the strange and beautiful patterns and markings all over them. When you have finished you can turn  off the light  and collect the sheet in the morning when the moths have flown off

Helpful tips

If you want to take things further there are some great ideas online to help you make your own budget light trap. Take a look at this idea from Butterfly Conservation . Build a budget bucket moth trap.

There are lots of other ways to explore nature at night. Dusk is great time just between day and night when you can often see bats silhouetted against the sky and you can listen to the birds settling in for the night. You might hear the hoot of an owl or be lucky enough to hear the churr of a nightjar.

Keep an eye out for events by your local moth or bat group

More information

Find out more about  moths  on the Butterfly Conservation website