Moth trap

A moth trap is a piece of equipment used to attract and often capture moths (and other insects). The moths are usually unharmed and can then be studied and recorded by entomologists.

Common forms of moth traps use mercury vapour lamps to attract moths. The moths fly towards the light and spiral down towards the source of the light.

A photograph of a moth trap.
Photograph by Júlio Reis licensed under Creative Commons.

Other names for (or types of) Moth trap include:

• Heath trap
• Insect Light Trap
• Moonlander trap
• Robinson trap

Related terms

• Beating tray
• Biological recording
• Lepidoptera
• Lepidopterist
• Malaise trap
• Mercury vapour lamp
• Noctuid
• Nocturnal
• Pitfall trap
• Sugaring
• Wine rope

Related groups of terms

• Equipment

Related pages on this web site

• A Guide to Moth Traps and their use
• Butterflies and Moths - Order Lepidoptera

See other words beginning with M