Collect And Observe Bugs At Home
Bugs are all around us, but can be hard to spot because of their small size and ability to blend in with their environment. Luckily, there are simple ways to collect and observe them, which you can do with materials you have at home!
Pitfall Trap
Many bugs live low to the ground, meandering through the grass, leaves, and soil as they go about their daily lives. Pitfall traps are a great way to collect these hard-to-find creatures.
Materials
- Small container like a plastic drinking cup, coffee can, etc.
- Shovel
Note: If you don’t have a yard, make a bait trap instead of a pitfall trap. Simply put a piece of ripe fruit or meat in a shallow container and see who comes to visit. Make sure to compost or throw the bait away when you’re done watching.
Gather your materials.
Dig a hole in the ground the same depth as your container.
Place the container in the hole so that its opening is level with the ground.
Check the container every few hours to see what falls in, and don’t forget to release what you find.
BEAT SHEET
Another method, called a "beat sheet," is used to discover bugs that live higher off the ground in bushes and trees.
Materials
- Light-colored piece of fabric like an old pillow case or thin towel
- Scissors
- Two dowels or sticks
- Strong tape (duct tape or packing tape)
Gather your materials.
Place the sticks in an “X” and tape them together in the middle.
Place the “X” on the cloth so that the end of each stick lines up with a corner of the fabric, cutting your fabric so it’s just a little bigger than the “X.”
Fold the corners and tape them to the sticks.
Place your beat sheet underneath a bush or a tree and give the plant a gentle shake. Did you catch any bugs?