Hi Samm, You may want to consider ramp traps instead of pitfall traps. They're inexpensive and generally catch about twice the epigeal invertebrates, and they minimize vertebrate by-catch. Further, they do not require soil disturbance (i.e., no hole to dig!).
See these articles for more information: Bouchard, P., T. A. Wheeler, & H. Goulet. 2000. Design for a low-cost, covered, ramp pitfall trap. The Canadian Entomologist 132:387–389. Patrick, L. B., and A. Hansen. 2013. Comparing ramp and pitfall traps for capturing wandering spiders. Journal of Arachnology 41(3):404–406. Pearce, J. L., D. Schuurman, K. N. Barber, M. Larrivée, L. A. Venier, J. McKee, & D. McKenney. 2005. Pitfall trap designs to maximize invertebrate captures and minimize captures of nontarget vertebrates. The Canadian Entomologist 137:233–250. Best regards, Brian ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ L. Brian Patrick, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology and Chair Department of Biological Sciences Dakota Wesleyan University 1200 W. University Ave. Mitchell, SD 57301 ________________________________________ From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news <[email protected]> on behalf of Sammantha Rowland <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 6, 2015 6:14 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Entomological Wet Pitfall Traps Hey all - I'm conducting a study of diversity and abundance of insects in a sage-steppe habitat in relation to riparian zones, and I need to install wet pitfall traps for 60+ days. After exploring options on BioQuip, I've noticed that most pitfall traps are cheaply made. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the USFWS require that I put a lid on the wet trap to keep animals out. I am debating on what would be the best way to either construct or purchase these traps, and whether I should use formaldehyde (10%) or ethylene glycol in the traps. Does anyone out there have experience that they would like to share or any suggestions for how to construct an animal-proof wet pitfall trap? -- Samm Rowland Masters in Environmental Management Integrated Land Management Western Colorado State University 917.763.1271 [email protected]
