Insect Collection Tools

Nets

• There are three basic types of insect collecting nets, aerial, sweep and aquatic, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Aerial nets have a lightweight handle and bag and are used exclusively for flying insects, especially butterflies. Sweep nets are used to collect insects on branches, tree trunks, grass, bushes, and sand, therefore they are made of a more sturdy bag than aerial nets, to withstand contact with thick vegetation. Aquatic nets catch insects in water and are usually made of a heavy mesh such as metal screening. Metal handles, common on aquatic nets, withstand deterioration better than wood handles.

Pitfall Trap

• A pitfall trap collects ground-dwelling insects. According to the USDA, a pitfall trap requires an insect to fall into a jar or container buried in the ground. Collectors bury the jar until the opening is level with the ground and use wood, bark or stone to create a cover over the trap. The cover lures insects looking for a dark space and keep rain out of the trap. A specific type of bait is used in the trap when trying to catch a particular type of insect, and the trap is checked daily to avoid having insects escape or eaten by predators.

Light Trap

• The Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability states that light traps work for collecting flying insects at night. A simple light trap works using a UV light or black light placed above a pan containing alcohol, acting as the killing agent. An insect attracted to the light hits it and falls into the pan of alcohol. Another way to use a light trap that does not kill the insect involves placing a funnel on the rim of a jar or container and suspending the light above it. Bugs hit the light, fall through the funnel into the container and are unable to fly out.

Sticky Trap

• Commercially available, sticky traps consist of a piece of tape, board or other object coated with a sticky material and hung from a tree or convenient location. Insects become stuck when landing on the trap but can be removed by dissolving the sticky substance with a solvent such as toluene or xylene, reports the USDA.

Insect Aspirator

• For insects too small or delicate to be collected with forceps, an insect aspirator collects these creatures from small spaces or from collecting nets. The University of Kentucky describes an insect aspirator as consisting of a vial with two pieces of tube attached to a two-hole stopper in the opening. The collector places the end of one tube near the insect and sucks on the end of the other tube, drawing the insect into the vial. A piece of screening is placed over the tubing that is sucked on to avoid pulling the insect into the mouth.