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SUGARING FOR MOTHS AND NIGHT-FLYING INSECTS
Many insects, especially moths, can be observed, studied or collected by baiting or "sugaring" along wooded trails. This method is especially fascinating, assuming one enjoys being outside after dark!
The first step is to prepare an acceptable bait (acceptable to the moths, that is). A good bait should be both smelly and sweet tasting, and for best results it should also be allowed to ferment. Any combination of the following ingredients will work well: sugar, various fruit scraps (over ripe bananas, peaches and apples work especially well), and molasses. Some moth collectors add stale beer or rum to their mixture, believing that it increases the smell and makes the moths tipsy! Make the bait at least two weeks before you intend to use it; it is not necessary to keep the mixture refrigerated. Bait kept in a warm place always works better; after all, the stinkier the better!
To apply the bait you will need an old paint brush (2-3 inches wide) and a baiting bucket. You can make a homemade baiting bucket from a discarded milk jug, cider jug or bleach bottle. Cut out the portion in front of the handle near the top of the jug (no more than 1/4 of the jug's diameter). The bait can be reached through this opening with your paint brush and applied to trees when sugaring.
Apply the bait to the sides of trees just before dark. Select a trail in open woods or along forest edges that can be easily followed after dark with the help of a flashlight. Swab the bait on the tree at chest height and apply enough to cover an area about five inches across. Select trees that can be easily approached without interference from tree limbs, small branches, sticks or other debris on the ground, and holes or roots.
After it gets dark you can return to the sugared trees. Be sure to bring your light, jars, and a net. A camera with flash attachment may also be used, if desired.
Approach each baited tree very carefully, as the moths and other insects will be very nervous and quick to fly if disturbed. Keep the flashlight off as you get near to each baited tree, then switch the light on and carefully direct the beam upward from below. Keep the brightest part of the flashlight beam off to the side of the baited spot to avoid alarming any insects and moths that might be feeding there. If you spot a moth or other insect that you would like to observe more closely, bring an open wide-mouthed jar up to the insect from below. At the last moment clap the lid over the insect, or clap the jar against the side of the tree. Some people prefer to use a short handled net instead of a jar, but this requires the use of a headlamp so that both hands are free to swing the net. When taking pictures, the dim light from the flashlight should allow you to find the insect and focus before snapping a closeup picture. The flash will provide enough illumination for the insect to show up in the picture.
Patrol your bait trail every half hour for as long as you can. If the night is warm and overcast the insect activity will continue well into the early hours of the next morning; in fact, some of the moths do not begin to fly until after midnight. You might also want to visit the baited trees in the morning, as many diurnal (daytime) insects will also be attracted to the bait.
--Mogens C. Nielson, Lansing, MI and Gary A. Dunn (reprinted from Insect World 11 (4), August 1999)