Sugaring for Moths

Night hikes can be real eye-openers. Here's a way you can find creatures of the night, namely some moths by providing them a sweet treat. Plan this activity for a warm, calm night in late May, June, July or August. You should start at dusk and continue until after dark. On good nights there will usually be lots of small, often colorful moths and other insects brought to the bait. In early summer you may attract the large hawk moths and in July and August you will often attract many large, colorful underwing (Catocala) moths.

Instructions:  Just before dusk choose some trees that are upwind from a large wooded area, or a woods-field edge. Try to find a place without a lot of bright lights on. Paint a 5-inch square patch of bait (see recipe below) on the tree surface. If you're painting lots of trees, mark some of the trees or fence posts with a small piece of white paper (use thumbtacks) to help you find the baited trees after dark. After dusk go check out your trees with a flashlight. Keep the flashlight off until you are at the tree. Hold the beam just to one side of the moths and not directly on them.

Recipe:

To make the bait, mix sugar, enough fruit juice to dissolve the sugar, rotten fruit (bananas work well) and molasses. Mix thoroughly in a blender and paint on the tree with a paintbrush.

Happy night hiking!