Felix wrote:The only thing that I shall add to this debate is that I am always amazed that the recreational use of moth traps does not attract the same ire as the use of a net to briefly subdue a butterfly.
A-ha! Someone else who shares my thoughts on the subject. In all my years using nets (butterfly or sweep nets) I've only ever inadvertantly killed about three moths and somehow decapitated a fast-moving dragonfly with an ill-timed swipe. And yes, I felt very bad about that. I no longer run a moth trap, but I've had ants, hornets and clumsy chafers wreaking havoc with the catch during the hours of darkness and I've seen birds queueing up for breakfast at other traps. Any MV trap user will know that many moths, especially some of the micro families, will quite literally burn out whilst the trap is running - leaving a collection of tiny trashed wings in the botton of the trap. Burning moth scales have a quite unique smell! Then there are the dangers to the trapper, irradiation, blindness, electrocution, sinking in peat bogs by night...the bloodthirsty lynch mobs...
Moths are very in vogue at present. I suspect that in a few decades time MV traps will be viewed in much the same light (pun not intended) as collecting birds with shotguns.
Felix wrote:Permits for the use of nets are easily obtained, and in the absence of such a licence, the majority of site managers and wardens in my experience are only too happy to have a copy of your species list in exchange for verbal permission.
In my experience this is an accurate statement. I've netted on SSSIs and LNRs with such verbal permission. I've also been approached and (usually!) politely been asked "what are you catching with that thing?" So far I've never had a problem, although I was advised not to bring my net on a BC walk once (I was hoping to sweep for micro's), only to find that the leader and two others present brought theirs!
Potentially more worrying though is this situation - I spent many many (many...) hours searching for Psychids on tree trunks in various wooded areas across Surrey, all for the forthcoming county atlas. Usually by myself. My technique is simple - stand about 18inches or less from a tree trunk and examine it in minute detail. I often become absorbed in my 'hunt' and this can cause issues. Imagine the young lady walking her dog through the woods who suddenly sees a 6ft skinhead 'hiding' behind a nearby tree. Yep, I've had the police check me out a couple of times so far...thankfully my ever-present notebook and willingness to show the suspicious officer what a Psychid looks like have always managed to get me off the hook!
So all those who use a net in public spaces should probably expect the occasional enquiry into what they're up to.
All those who hunt Psychids in public spaces need to do so either very very early in the morning before anybody wakes up or be very convincing in their explanation, lol!
Gibster.