Insect collection is one of the core activities of entomologists, aiding in biodiversity studies, pest management, and understanding ecological systems. To capture different insect species, entomologists use a range of specialised traps, each designed to target different insect behaviours and environments. Among the most commonly used traps are funnel traps, light traps, emergence traps, and malaise traps. Each has a unique design and serves distinct purposes.
Here, we offer a short guide to some of the most common trap types, including their most common uses and benefits.
Funnel Traps
Funnel traps are generally designed to capture ground-dwelling insects or those that crawl into tight spaces. These traps consist of a funnel-shaped entrance leading into a container, often baited with attractants like insects pheromones (chemicals that draw insects), food, or scents. Insects, drawn by the lure, crawl into the funnel and fall into the container where they cannot escape.
Common Uses: Funnel traps are primarily used for monitoring and managing pest populations, such as beetles and moths. They are particularly effective in agricultural settings for detecting and tracking pest species like bark beetles, weevils, or fruit flies. The simplicity and ease of setting these traps make them a go-to for long-term monitoring.
Advantages: Funnel traps are effective for ground-dwelling insects and can be placed in specific areas, like orchards or forests, where pest activity is high. Since the bait can be customised, these traps are great for targeting specific species or groups.
Examples:
- Lindgren Funnel Trap: this trap consists of series of either 4 or 12 conical shaped plastic funnels that are arranged vertically. The cone shape of the funnels causes the specimens on impact to deflect downwards into the collecting cup. We offer both standard and budget options.
- Berlese Funnel: There are many kinds of Berlese funnels. Some aim to extract arthropods from soil and leaf litter samples. A light source is used to drive them downward (as they’re generally adverse to light), causing them to fall through a funnel and into a container.
- Recycled funnel for kids: we have an easy guide to making your own basic funnel trap in just a few minutes!
Light Traps
Light traps attract flying insects that are drawn to bright light sources, particularly UV light. They consist of a light source positioned above a collection container, often filled with a liquid preservative. Insects are attracted to the light, and upon approaching it, fall into the container below. The design capitalises on the fact that many nocturnal insects, like moths and beetles, navigate using natural light sources like the moon.
Common Uses: Light traps are widely used in ecological studies, pest monitoring, and biodiversity assessments. They are particularly effective for collecting nocturnal insects, such as moths, beetles, and some flies. These traps can be deployed in a wide range of habitats, from forests to agricultural fields.
Advantages: Light traps are excellent for collecting large numbers of nocturnal insects over short periods. They allow researchers to monitor insect populations with minimal interference, making them ideal for both short-term and long-term studies.
Examples:
- Mosquito Vector Light Trap: These traps lure mosquitos using a battery-powered UV light, before funnelling specimens into a hanging net, from which it’s difficult to escape. Specimens can be collected dead or alive.
- Biogents BG-Pro CDC Light Trap: This is an extremely versatile trap, which can be set up differently to target different insect populations. It can use lures, CO2 gas, and a gentle fan to suck mosquitos into the trapping area. We have another blog post that outlines just how incredibly versatile this trap is.
Emergence Traps
Emergence traps are designed to capture insects during the final stage of metamorphosis, as they emerge from their pupal stage or from within their natural habitats, like soil, leaf litter, or decaying wood. These traps typically consist of a mesh cover placed over the target area (e.g., a log, patch of soil, but sometimes even bodies of water), with an inverted funnel leading to a collection container. When insects emerge, they instinctively move toward the light and are funnelled into the container.
Common Uses: Emergence traps are used to study insect life cycles and population dynamics. They are particularly useful in forestry, soil ecology, and habitat restoration projects, as they can capture insects like beetles, flies, and wasps as they emerge from decaying wood or soil.
Advantages: These traps provide insight into the timing and success rates of insect emergence, offering valuable data on species reproduction and environmental conditions. They are also highly selective, capturing insects at a critical stage in their life cycle.
Examples:
- Soil Emergence Trap: This is effectively a floorless tent with specialised access points for specimen capture and handling. As insects emerge from the soil, they find themselves trapped in the unit. We offer them in a range of sizes.
- Amphibious/soil emergence traps: Some emergence traps are able to be suspended on the surface of water, to enable the capture of insects emerging from water sources. This is our main offering of this type.
Malaise Traps
Malaise traps are large, tent-like structures designed to intercept and capture flying insects. As insects fly into the trap, they naturally move upward toward the highest point, where they are funnelled into a collection jar containing a preservative. Malaise traps are passive traps, relying on the insects’ flight patterns rather than any active lure or attractant.
Common Uses: Malaise traps are highly effective for capturing a wide variety of flying insects, particularly small and fast-moving species like flies, wasps, and bees. They are often used in biodiversity studies, ecological monitoring, and taxonomic surveys, especially in dense habitats like forests or meadows.
Advantages: Malaise traps can capture a diverse range of flying insects, often with minimal maintenance. Their passive design makes them ideal for long-term monitoring of insect populations and studying overall species diversity in a given area. They can also be directed to capture insects only migrating in a particular direction.
Examples:
- Marris-Style: A small, oblong tent, with two short end walls but no walls on the sides. It’s made from fine mesh, allowing air to pass through but not insects, the central diaphragm contains captures specimens.
- SLAM Traps: These are extremely versatile traps. SLAM stands for Sea, Land, and Air Malaise Trap, meaning it floats on water, stands on the ground, and hangs in the sky—each configuration targeting different insect populations.
Wrapping up
Each of these traps—funnel, light, emergence, and malaise—serves a specific purpose and is designed to target different insect behaviours and habitats. Funnel traps are great for ground-dwelling or pest species, light traps excel in capturing nocturnal flyers, emergence traps help study life cycles, and malaise traps passively capture a wide variety of flying insects. Understanding their unique advantages and applications allows entomologists to collect comprehensive data on insect populations, contributing to a deeper understanding of biodiversity, ecology, and pest management.