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Locations

We can collect Data by a lake or a grassland area

We can collect from a dry area but where the soil is not to compacted.

     All of the areas we’ve collected data from are around the Nature Museum grounds. Locations have included discrete areas on a flat surface by vegetation, close to water like ponds or lakes, near the parking lot in the vegetation, and by the walls at the edge of the park lot.

Materials

Materials used in the Field:

  • 70% Isopropyl alcohol

  • (2) Plastic cups for every trap

  • (1) Tile for each trap

  • (1) Sharpie

  • Bananas

  • Peanut Butter

  • Wet Cat Food

  • Brackets

  • Flat Washers

  • Tablet

  • (3) Film Canisters

 

                                                                                                                                                                                         Materials we use in the lab:

  • Pipettes

  • Vials

  • (3)Tweezers

  • (3) 91% Isopropyl alcohol

  • Clear plastic tray

  • 11x17 sheet of laminated paper

  • Insect ID guides

  • Petri dishes

Procedure

  1. Choose a location to dig a hole for the pitfall trap.The location should be an area where the ground is flat, has good soil and that is not easily for the other people to see.

  2.  

  3. ……Decide who will be digging the hole for the trap and who will be recording information in EpiCollect on the data sheet .

  4. Record the surroundings and observations of your location (Trees, plants, etc.) and log them in the designed EpiCollect form and on the data sheet.

  5. Using the trowel, dig a small hole that is slightly deeper and wider and than the cups.

  6. Place the two cups down in the hole ( one cup inside of the other)

  7. Refill the dirt in the empty space around the cups, it's ok if u get a little soil or dirt in the cup.

  8. Carefully remove the top  cup and dumb out the soil or dirt and the debris .

  9. Fill 1/2 of the cup with isopropyl alcohol and then put the film canister with the bait in the middle of the cup.

  10. Replace the cup in the hole and pack in some more dirt around the rim so the rim is right below ground level avoid getting dirt and debris in the isopropyl.Place the brackets on top of the hole .

  11. Label the ceramic tile with your tile your field number.

  12. Place the tile on the top of the brackets.

  13. Wait at least 24 hours until u can check your pitfall trap.

Baited Pitfall traps

  1. First gather (3 Film Canisters)

  2. Put (8 washers) in each film Canisters

  3. Gather 3 ( spoons) to use to scoop the bait into the film canister

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