.
Setting the Trap!
Site Selection Guide: Choosing a good location matters. Where you place your Malaise trap will influence what insects you collect, so take a few minutes to look around and choose thoughtfully.
Walk through your site and identify the different habitats nearby. Even small areas often contain more variety than you expect. Select a location that reflects your local environment and is practical to maintain.
Accessibility
Environment
Select a location that reflects your local environment. Woodland edges, areas near water, gardens, or natural transitions between open and shaded spaces can all work well. Even small differences in habitat can influence the insects collected. Place the trap on level ground with short vegetation to allow insects to enter freely.
Trap Positioning
here's a hint:
Pay Attention to the Environment
Preparing to set up your trap as part of a program like BugQuest provides a great opportunity to explore your local environment. It is possible that you will have several excellent locations to deploy the Malaise trap. Take the time to explore the the unique habitats that your surrounding areas may offer. This is an excellent time to assess local ecosystems, create habitat maps, and determine how humans impact the environment – all of which are important components of the curriculum.
It's starting to get "in-tents"
Meet the Malaise Trap!
The Malaise trap is a tool commonly used in insect research projects, such as BugQuest, to collect flying insects. It resembles a small mesh tent designed to intercept insects as they move through the environment.
When insects encounter the central mesh wall, they tend to fly upward. The shape of the trap directs that movement into a collection bottle at the top, where the insects are safely captured for study.
Just add water!
The Collection Bottle
At the top of the Malaise trap is a collection bottle that holds a preservative solution. As insects move upward through the trap, they enter this bottle and are preserved until the sample is collected.
In BugQuest collection bottles, called Quest bottles, salt water is used for preservation. Each Quest bottle comes pre-filled with salt, all you have to do is add water!
Salt is used because it helps preserve the insects while remaining safe and easy to handle in schools and community settings. It slows decomposition and keeps the specimens in good condition until they are shipped back to the lab.