Wesley checked out a new DVD from the library last week: Smithsonian Networks Kids! Critter Quest. In one of the episodes of this nature show for kids, the host builds a small deadfall trap in his backyard to catch nocturnal insects. In the show they catch 3 beetles and then held beetle races. Wesley thought this was a great idea so we did it. He had a great time and was so excited to check the trap the next morning that he woke up early.
Supplies:
- Scissors or knife
- Small glass jar (we used a jam jar)
- Cardboard
- A shovel or something else to dig a hole
Step-By-Step:
To begin we dug a hole in the backyard just big enough to fit the jar. It needs to be buried completely level with the top lip of the jar. The idea is that the bugs will walk across the dirt and just fall right in.
Digging the hole.
Buried right to the rim.
With the cardboard we made 5 pieces. Four long strips about 3 inches by 18 inches and one top big enough to cover the jar. Each strip goes up against the edge of the jar at a 90 degree angle. Basically they form a big plus sign. Effectively they funnel the insects into the jar. The bugs are walking along, bump into the cardboard, and then follow the edge of the strip right into the jar.
Cardboard strips funnel in the insects.
Closeup of jar in ground.
Then you just place the last piece of cardboard on top to keep the jar from filling with water should it rain (thus drowning the insects).
Rain cover in place.
The next day we checked our trap. I was surprised to see about 60 pillbugs, a sowbug, a few earwigs, a small spider and an ant. The next day we found a similar number of bugs plus a small black beetle. We’ve set the trap again and we’ll let you know if we catch anything really exciting.
Our first day's catch.
