What are the best methods for removing and preserving insects from sticky traps for ecological sampling while minimising damage to specimens?

25 March 2025 1 9K Report

I am using sticky traps, amongst other techniques, to sample invertebrates in cave ecosystems and need to extract specimens for identification and diversity analysis. However, I want to minimize damage to delicate structures like wings and legs. What are the most effective methods or solvents for safely removing insects from sticky traps, and how can I best preserve them for later study?

Mark Inwood

When I worked for the UK Ministry of Ag. Fish and Food (yes, it did exist many moons ago) we used a water soluble goo on the sticky traps. We laid the clear plastic with sitcky in a tray of water to do aphid counts etc. Anything of interest was lifted out and preserved in alcohol.

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