Malaise trap sampling

Knowledge graph centered on Malaise trap sampling with 73 nodes and 169 connections. Top connected: Bombus, Ligusticum porteri, Delphinium, Bombus terrestris, Bombus appositus.

Method synopsis

Long-term standardized sampling of aerial insects using a single Malaise trap at a fixed location operated weekly throughout growing seasons. Insects are collected, dried, sorted taxonomically, counted and weighed to quantify abundance and biomass.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 9 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Long-term declines in insect abundance and biomass in a subalpine habitat (2023), Ecosphere. The protocol was originally introduced by Syrphid fly distributions along an elevation gradient in and around the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) (2012). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Install Malaise trap at permanent location
   Set up a Malaise trap (BioQuip Model No. 2875A/2875B) at the same location (38°57'24.8" N, 106°59'08.0" W) using a permanent metal stake to support the trap's central pole. The trap contained a small piece of Hotshot No-Pest Strips (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) on top for approximately two days.
   Quantities: One trap at single fixed location coordinatesDuration: Set up at beginning of each growing seasonConditions: Growing season from May or June when snow melts until September or October
   Equipment: Malaise trap (BioQuip Model No. 2875A/2875B), permanent metal stake, Hotshot No-Pest Strips (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate)
2. Weekly insect collection
   Collect insects weekly by bringing the insect collection jar into the laboratory. The trap was open at the top so no insects were captured when closed. Sample for the course of the growing season with mean 11.0 ± 3.6 weekly samples per growing season (range: 6-19 samples).
   Quantities: Weekly collections, 11.0 ± 3.6 samples per season over 406 total samples from 1984 to 2020 (analysis began 1986)Duration: Weekly throughout each growing season, course of each growing seasonConditions: During growing season, approximately May-September
   Equipment: collection jar

Typical Equipment

• Malaise trap (BioQuip Model No. 2875A/2875B)
• permanent metal stake
• Hotshot No-Pest Strips (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate)
• collection jar
• Ohaus Dial-O-Gram 310 g balance (precision 0.01 g)

Output Measurements

• insect abundance
• insect biomass
• taxonomic composition

Papers Using This Protocol (9)

Species Studied With This Protocol