Forceps
Forceps or long tweezers are used to handle arthropods that you donŐt want to touch because they sting, bite or secrete undesirable chemicals. Take care not to squeeze too hard, grab the arthropod on a soft part of its body, legs or wings. Forceps can also assist in removing dead insects and other materials from containers with limited disturbance. Attaching soft sponge to the tips of a forceps reduces the chance of damaging an insect when it is squeezed.
Aerial insect net
Aerial nets are the traditional butterfly nets used to catch flying insects. They are usually constructed with muslin covering a metal ring with an end cone of nylon netting attached to the muslin. You can easily construct your own or purchase one. Prices vary from $8.00-$25.00 depending on the quality.
Sweep net
Aerial nets work well in the air but can easily be snagged and ripped when they encounter thorns, or twigs. To gather insects that live on leaves or when sampling a plant, entomologists use sweep nets. Sweep nets have plastic or heavy fabric covering the metal ring. The cone is made of heavy muslin.
Aquatic net
Normally, an aquatic net is made of heavy cloth sides with mesh at the bottom for easy draining. Various lengths of pole can be used in different water depths. If proper net material is not available, wire kitchen strainers or aquarium nets may suffice.
Beating sheet
A beating sheet is a square cloth stretched with two pieces of wood. This square is held below a plant while someone taps on the branches of the plant with another piece of wood. A light colored upside-down umbrella can be used.
Light traps
Many insects are active at night and are attracted to lights. Light traps usually gather large numbers of insects for surveys and should be monitored if you want live material. The trap is constructed with a light above a container (5 gallon bucket) with a funnel set inside. The insects are attracted to the light, fall through the funnel into the container and cannot escape.
Black lights
Working on the same principle as the light trap, black lights attract insects at night. Usually a white sheet is set up behind and below the black light so that it illuminates the sheet. Insects gather on the sheet and can easily be removed for examination or collection. In the morning the insects fly away or are eaten by eager birds. If you don't have a UV black light, a strong porch light at the dark of the moon will attract many insects. Place a white sheet on the wall by the light and see if more insects come in. Lights in remote areas may attract many insects. Look on the ground below the light and on surrounding buildings or plants for roosting insects.
Aspirator
The aspirator is a small vacuum cleaner that you suck on to gather insects. In brief, a stopper on top of a vial has two pipes. One has a tube attached which you suck on and the other has a pipe which is directed at the insect. When you suck on the tube, the insect moves into the vial. A screen on the tube end prevents inhaling insects, and a small piece of sponge prevents inhalation of dust, etc.
Fine-Haired Paint Brush
Moving small soft-bodied insects without killing or damaging them is easy with a fine paint brush. Allow the insect to crawl onto the paint brush and then carefully roll it off or gently tap it into a new container. This is particularly helpful with small caterpillars and other insects that have just hatched or molted.
Pitfall traps
Many insects are not noticed because they are active at different times of day or night. Pitfall traps are used by scientists to survey areas for ground meandering arthropods. A very simple pitfall trap can be made by setting a coffee can (pound size) into the ground with the top edge at the surface of the soil. Place the trap in a shady area so the captured insects do not bake. Check the trap daily. Pitfall traps also catch lizards, snakes and scorpions. Take care when removing the trap and have forceps available to remove animals safely . Pitfall traps can also be baited with different kinds of food to attract specific insects. Arthropods that may be caught include velvet ants, beetles, spiders, centipedes, silverfish, and scorpions.
Berlese funnel
Collecting insects from leaf litter is painstaking and the sorting is tedious. The "Berlese funnel" makes this job easier. The "Berlese funnel" includes a funnel placed above a container and an incandescent light placed above the top of the funnel. A piece of screen sits in the middle of the funnel. Place the leaf litter in the funnel on the screen and turn on a bright light bulb above the funnel. As the leaf litter dries out and heats up, the insects move downward and fall into the container. This catches silverfish, springtails, small beetles, and other decomposers.
Cooler or Ice Chest
If you carry insects in a car, use a cooler to protect the insects from overheating. A small piece of ice or a couple of cold cans of soda will keep the cooler at a comfortable temperature for most short trips. Leaving insects in the shade or a backpack may not provide enough protection on hot days. Insects overheat very quickly and sitting in a warm car can end in death in a couple of minutes. If moisture starts forming on the inside of the container, get it to a cool place as quickly as possible. Stabilize items in the cooler to reduce rolling and other disturbances to the insects during transportation.
Containers
Many different kinds of containers can be used to collect arthropods. Old margarine, cottage cheese and deli containers are all options. Considerations for good containers are: 1. The insect should not be cramped unless you are deliberately trying to restrict its movements for its own safety (i.e., butterflies, moths, some grasshoppers). 2. If the container is not clear, label the container so that you do not have to open the lid to see what is inside. 3. Place small air holes in the lid but make sure the holes are not too big and allow the insect to escape. 4. A moist piece of paper towel inside of the container can provide the insect with a cushion and a place to hang on. 5. Do not place different species in the same container. Similarly place only one predaceous insect in a container.
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