Insect nets
Sweep nets are made up of mostly heavy material needed for dragging the net through dense vegetation without being torn or damaged. They catch insects in the vegetation randomly and insects that the eye wouldn’t be able to see.
The combination of the two nets, it is made up of the light material of the aerial net and the meshed material on the sweeping net and commonly used. This type of net is a good compromise between the two types of nets and is good for general collecting.
Collecting Jars
Collecting jars are simply any type of jar that has some sort of killing
agent in it such as ethyl acetate and potassium cyanide. Ethyl acetate
jars have
a layer of plaster of paris at the bottom and the ethyl acetate then
is poured into the jar, saturating the plaster. Cyanide jars have
a thin layer of dry
potassium cyanide at the base with a layer of sawdust and topped of
with a layer of plaster. When plaster dries, the base of each jar
is taped with either
masking tape or strapping tape. This is done because, if the jar breaks,
the glass and cyanide will be contained. Cyanide is very dangerous
and can be fatal
if ingested and not recommended for children.
http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/images/ProdImages/t-6289.jpg
Envelopes
Dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, and other delicate insects are
placed into a separate transparent mylar or glassine envelopes after
being collected
and data can be written on bag directly. In collections, the previous insects
that have been listed are often stored in glassine envelopes to conserve
space and to protect the specimen.
http://webzoom.freewebs.com/saturnids/WEB%20collectingEnvelope.jpg
Collecting Forceps
Collecting forceps are quite useful in the field depending on the type
of insect you are collecting. Having a sharp pair would be useful
for ants on bait
or on the bark of a tree. The forceps would be very useful for aquatic
insects from a large white pan.
http://www.msstate.edu/org/mississippientmuseum/images/traps/forceps.jpg
Beat Sheet
Many insects eat and rest on trees, bushes, and other plants. These
insects are most likely be difficult to identify by casual observation,
but can be easily
collected by beating whatever it is on with a stick, and then the insects
would fall onto the beat sheet for collecting.
http://www.handsontheland.org/monitoring/projects/inverts/images/beat_sheet.jpg
Flight interception
Beetles tend to fall when they fly into
a barrier. this uses a mesh net and collection pans on the ground.
The pans are usually filled with soap water
http://www.sbnature.org/collections/invert/entom/cbpfieldwork2.php
Malaise Trap
Collecting species that try to crawl over barriers, uses an open sided tent that funnels insects into a jar. Most commonly used for insects that crawl on the ground
http://www.sbnature.org/collections/invert/entom/cbpfieldwork2.php
Pitfall Trap
Beetle collecting standard that uses a cup or bucket buried to its rim in the ground, and is used to capture bugs on the ground.
http://www.sbnature.org/collections/invert/entom/cbpfieldwork2.php
Light Collecting
This method is used for collecting nocturnal insects. A black light or mercury vapor light that is set up in front of a white sheet attracts many insects.
http://www.sbnature.org/collections/invert/entom/cbpfieldwork2.php