The Suffolk Argus
Sugaring for Moths by TonyPrichard Present day Moth enthusiasts invariably use a light source as their main method of attracting moths. Before the advent of electric lamps and portable generators moth collectors of the past used other means to attract moths, the main method being the use of a sugar bait. The practice of sugaring has fallen into relative disuse with the powerful MV lamps now being used in moth traps and their more consistently larger catches, although sugaring still has its place as some species are not attracted to light but may be attracted to sugar bait. The classic method used was to make up a thick treacly mixture which was then painted onto tree trunks, fence posts, thistle heads, and other suitable vertical surfaces at around dusk. The painted strips were then patrolled into the night waiting for hungry moths to arrive. Various recipes exist for making up this type of sugar bait these invariably contain some form of beer/cider and treacle/ molasses sugar. The one I use (which is adapted from Roger Kendrick's) is as follows: 0.5 pints (250ml) of good stout One over-ripe banana One ripe mango, with the flesh stripped off the stone 2 dessert spoons of black molasses lib (450g) of the stickiest/darkest sugar you can find
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July 1997
The mixture needs to be heated and the saucepan used should be at least twice the volume of the ingredients, as the mixture is prone to froth up when it is boiled. Mash or liquidise the banana (including the skin) and the mango flesh. Place the banana, stout, molasses, sugar, and mango flesh in the pan. Heat very gently, stirring frequently for 15 to 20 minutes until all the ingredients have dissolved and the mixture is starting to come to boil. Simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally, making sure that the mixture does not solidify at the edges or overflow. Allow to cool, again stirring occasionally. Bottle while still lukewarm. Before use stir in a little spirit (e.g. rum). Apply with a paintbrush. There are numerous variants on the above recipe, I have even heard of people using just an overripe water melon, breaking the melon open and smearing the pulp on tree trunks. Some of the older recipes say that essence of jargonelle pear or amyl acetate are the best attractants but I have never used them nor found where they could be purchased. An alternative to this method is to use the more recent method of wine roping which I first read about in an article by Paul Waring in Butterfly Conservation News Autumn 1995. Wine roping consists of heating up a cheap bottle of red wine in a pan and at the same time dissolving as much sugar as you can in the wine. The mixture is then left to cool after which 1 metre long strips of thick absorbent rope (washing line cut up is good for this) are immersed in the wine. The wine ropes are then placed on various bushes and branches of trees and you simply wait for the moths to appear. Using this method is cheaper than the treacle method but you have to remember where you put all the ropes when you go to collect them at the end of the night!
The Future of the Branch . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... byJames Mann, Chairman
After the Annual General Meeting I spent some time thinking about the future of the branch and the direction we want it to take. I will share my thought with you. I was disappointed by the low A.G.M. attendance but that is A.G.M.'s for you. When it came to the election of the committee there were no extra nominations and after serving the committee very well since the founding of the branch Michael and Jenny Kelsey have decided not to seek re-election. The remainder of the committee will continue to serve but due to the small numbers most will have two or more jobs. The branch has been running well. We always have a full and interesting programme of field trips all of which are well attended. We have one of the best recording networks in the country which was emphasized to me when Richard Stewart explained that he had already had promises to fill in many of the empty tetrads. A sea of change is now taking place in the name of Biodiversity. Julian Roughton of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust talked about this at the A.G.M., his talk highlighted the enormous task in front of us. What is happening in Suffolk of interest to us?
The Biodiversity Action Plan for Suffolk and East Anglia is being produced. We are working on our own Regional Action Plan. A recovery programme for the Silverstudded Blue on the Sandlings has been produced and the recovery of Butterflies in Suffolk will be published shortly. To carry out the recommendations of all these initiatives will need a great deal of work. Taking the Silver-studded Blue in the Sandlings as an example. This July a survey is to be carried out on all likely habitats between and around the known colonies including places like forest rides. This will determine exactly where Silver-studded Blues are present and will enable us to determine where colonisation may take place naturally and where relocation is necessary. There are probably around 30 kilometres of rides etc. to check so if we have five volunteers that's only about three miles each in old English! The other initiatives will in their turn require input to make them work. We must decide whether we want ro be full partners in these projects and have our name appearing alongside the other participants or whether we want to carry on as we are and keep a low profile. I would like us to be full partners and get the name of the branch much more widely known. If you agree with me please let me know by putting your name fotward to take part in the Silver-studded Blue survey this year. If it comes to it I will do the work myself but there is a limit to what one man can do. If you prefer to have the branch carry on as at the present also let me know to enable the committee to run the branch in the way the membership would like.
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