We are conducting a study on mangrove insect diversity. We want to know the specific kind of bait depending on the diet of the insect. If they are carnivorous, or if they are attracted to sugar solutions, what can we use for bait? Thank you!
A confined area with muddy water or swamp to get there localized or trapped in one zone
This depends a lot on the type of insect you are planning to work with. Usually insect vectors such as mosquitoes and sandflies use the CDC Trap. If it is flies use fish bait. Finally there are several traps for various types of insects
Hello Trisha; The project you propose is VAST! And to make it more complicated there are many different methods to collect insects that are pretty selective in which groups any particular method targets. Here is a little list of examples that might work in the habitat you are interested in.
1. Pan trap. A low pan with water about 1 cm deep. A drop of dish soap will increase the effectiveness. Pans of different colors attract different groups.
2. As Mr. Duarte suggests, fish is attractive to flies and some beetles.
3. Peanut butter, bits of canned meat, or cookie crumbs smeared on the bark of trees will attract many ants.
4. Fermenting sugar is attractive to a large array of insects.
5. Feces in a little cup placed in the bottom of a larger cup attracts several groups of beetles. Not all feces are equally attractive! It depends on what the collector has eaten recently!
6. At night a bright light sitting on a white sheet will be amazingly attractive.
The list goes on. There are various books on collecting methods. Here is one example. https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/19941104344
Happy collecting! I envy the diversity you will encounter, Jim Des Lauriers
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