How to Catch a Bug for an Insect Collection

Netting is an effective way to collect flying insects.

Collecting insects is a fun hobby and a valuable scientific tool. Scientists have been using insect collections for hundreds of years to help establish and identify the millions of different insect species found on earth. With an estimated 1 million species of insects alive today, the importance of identifying and categorizing insects is clear.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Metal window screen material
• Hobby/craft wire
• Felt tip marker
• Tin snips or electricians scissors
• Cat food (about a tablespoon left in its original can)
• Small nail
• Fine knit netting material such as a nylon stocking or mosquito netting
• Metal clothes hanger
• Sewing needle
• Thread
• broom stick
• Duct tape
• Cardboard
• Non-drying glue (such as insect trap glue sold in pest control stores, or spray adhesive in the craft section)
• Glue traps
• Tweezers
• Hobby knife

Flying Insects

1. Bend the metal close hanger to form a loop.

2. Attach the netting material to the loop using a needle and thread. Make sure the stitches are fine enough to prevent any netted insects from escaping.

3. Attach the end of the metal hanger to the broom stick using duct tape to provide a longer reach for netting insects.

4. Using the metal window screen material, form two cones with the same diameter base, one about half the height as the other. Mark where to cut the screens.

5. Cut the screen with a pair of tin snips or electrician's scissors.

6. Secure the screening material into cone shapes using the hobby wire.

7. Punch a hole in the cat food container with a nail. Using a small piece of wire, string the cat food container from the apex of the larger cone.

8. Clip the top off the smaller cone about 1 inch from the top and nestle it inside the larger cone so that both pointed ends are facing in the same direction. Secure the cones together around the base using the hobby wire. You now have a trap that will attract and capture small flying insects.

Crawling Insects

1. Place glue traps along the edges of pathways, against walls, in the corner of a room or anywhere else where you know insects travel. Bait the traps by placing a small dab of canned cat food in the center of the trap.

2. Cut a piece of cardboard the size and shape you want your glue trap to be.

3. Apply the non-drying adhesive to the cardboard following the manufacturer's directions. If you're using spray adhesive, reapply it every day or so when it dries out.

4. Bait the trap and place it as you would any glue trap.

5. Carefully remove the insect with tweezers and a hobby knife. Make sure you take a bit of the glue with the specimen rather than leaving a piece of the specimen stuck on the trap.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different baits to see which kinds of insects you can catch.

• As with any chemicals, follow the warnings on any adhesives and glue traps you use.

References

• Scholastic: General Facts about Insects and Bugs