Emilie Meyer
Pan traps are a type of insect trap used to sample the abundance and diversity of insects, and they are primarily used to capture small Hymenoptera. They are typically constructed with a brightly coloured bowl with shallow sides, filled with water, soap, and a few drops of a surfactant such as dishwashing liquid. The colour of the trap attracts different groups of flying insects, and they are usually placed in a sunny spot near flowering plants. To set a pan trap, you will need a brightly coloured bowl, water, soap, and a surfactant. You can also use salt, propylene glycol, or antifreeze as preservatives or to reduce evaporative water loss. Insects fly into the soapy water and are unable to escape, and they are preserved in the water for research usage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Sampling the abundance and diversity of insects |
| Target Insects | Small Hymenoptera, pollinators, bees, wasps |
| Container | Bowl with shallow sides, plastic containers (yoghurt cups, ice cream containers, soup takeout cartons) |
| Liquid | Water, soapy water, salt, propylene glycol, antifreeze, or other preservatives/killing agents |
| Colour | Yellow, white, blue, red |
| Bait | Overripe fruit (blackened bananas, watermelon, papaya), raw meat (hamburger, raw meat chunks) |
| Cover | Optional, can use mesh bag or plastic container lid |
| Placement | Sunny areas near flowering plants, on the ground, mounted on trees |
| Maintenance | Insects should be removed daily to prevent deterioration, trap should be left out until 3 different specimens (>5mm) are collected |
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What You'll Learn
Use a brightly coloured bowl
To set a pan trap, use a brightly coloured bowl, preferably yellow, white, or blue. These colours simulate flowers and attract flower-visiting insects like pollinators. You can also use a red bowl, but this colour is less commonly used. The bowl should be shallow and made of plastic. Fill the bowl halfway with water, and add a few drops of surfactant, such as dishwashing liquid, or soap. You can also add a preservative or killing agent, such as salt or propylene glycol, to the water.
Place the pan trap in a sunny spot near flowering plants. Some people place them directly on the ground, while others set them into the ground so that the top of the bowl is level with the surrounding ground. If you want to keep out larger animals, you can create a small cone with chicken wire or similar material and place it over the trap. If rain is expected, you can use the lid of a plastic container and position it a few inches above the bowl to protect the trap from getting filled with rainwater.
The colour of the bowl and its contents will attract diverse groups of flying insects. Some insects, such as bees, may confuse the trap with a natural flower and get captured. You can also add bait to the trap to entice insects. Overripe fruit, such as blackened bananas, watermelon, or papaya, works well. If you're targeting carnivorous insects, you can use raw meat or hamburger as bait. Place the bait directly in the bowl, or hang it in a mesh bag from a skewer laid across the opening of the trap.
Check your trap daily, as insects will start to degrade if left in the water for too long. Take photos of the insects before they deteriorate, and remove them from the trap once you have identified them. Keep the trap active just long enough to catch the insects you need.
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Fill halfway with soapy water
To set a pan trap, you'll need a brightly coloured container, such as a bowl or plastic container, and some soapy water. The colour of the trap will determine which insects you attract—yellow, white, and blue pans tend to attract pollinator species, including bees, while red pans target different species. You can use dishwashing liquid as the soap, acting as a surfactant, and add a few drops of it to the water. Fill your chosen container halfway with the soapy water.
The next step is to add bait. This could be a small amount of fruit or raw meat, such as hamburger. You can place the bait directly in the water, or hang it from a skewer above the trap. If you're using meat, it's a good idea to cover the trap to prevent other animals from stealing the bait. You can use chicken wire or a similar material to create a small cone that you place over the trap. Alternatively, if it looks like rain, you can use the lid of a plastic container and position it a few inches above the bowl, supported by skewers.
Place your trap in a sunny spot near flowering plants, as this will increase the chances of catching insects. Insects will need to be removed daily, as they will start to degrade. Remember to handle your catch with care and respect, and only keep the trap active for as long as you need to collect your specimens.
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Use yellow, white or blue bowls
The colour of pan traps is important as it attracts different groups of flying insects. Pollinators, for example, confuse coloured traps with natural flowers, leading to the capture of flying pollinator species, including bees.
Yellow is the most commonly used colour for pan traps, but blue and white bowls are also effective. Some studies have shown that bees are more attracted to blue or white pans compared to yellow ones. If you are specifically targeting bees, blue or white bowls may be a better option.
To create an effective pan trap, use a shallow bowl with coloured plastic in yellow, white, or blue. Fill the bowl halfway with water and add a few drops of surfactant, such as dishwashing liquid, to help capture insects. The surfactant reduces the surface tension of the water, causing insects to sink and drown. Additionally, you can add a killing agent such as soap, salt, propylene glycol, or antifreeze to preserve the insects for research purposes.
Place your yellow, white, or blue pan traps in sunny areas near flowering plants to increase the chances of capturing insects. Insects will need to be removed daily, as they will start to degrade. Remember to keep your pan trap active just long enough to catch the insects you need for research or analysis.
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Place in a sunny spot near flowers
To set a pan trap, you'll need a brightly coloured, shallow bowl, preferably yellow, white or blue. You can also use an ice cream container, or a plastic yoghurt cup or soup carton. Fill your chosen vessel halfway with water, adding a few drops of dishwashing liquid or another surfactant, and a preservative or killing agent such as salt or propylene glycol.
Now, place your trap in a sunny spot near flowers. The colour of the trap will attract flying insects, and the insects will mistake the trap for a flower. This method is particularly effective at capturing pollinators, including bees. If you want to attract bees, some studies suggest that blue or white pans are more effective than yellow.
You can also add bait to your trap. Place a small amount of overripe fruit or raw meat at the bottom of the trap, or hang it from a skewer across the opening. If you use meat, it's a good idea to cover the trap so that it isn't stolen by non-target animals.
Check your trap daily, as insects will start to degrade after 24 hours.
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Check traps daily
Checking your traps daily is an essential part of the trapping process. While it may be tempting to leave your traps for longer, there are several reasons why this can be detrimental to the welfare of the trapped animal and may even be illegal.
Firstly, checking your traps daily is usually a legal requirement. While regulations vary by jurisdiction, species, and trap type, traps must generally be checked at least once every 24 hours. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in fines and equipment confiscation, or even more severe legal repercussions. Therefore, it is crucial to research the specific laws and regulations in your area before setting any traps.
Secondly, checking your traps daily is an ethical responsibility. Trapped animals experience stress, fear, hunger, thirst, and potential injury the longer they are left in the trap. Timely checks minimize this suffering and allow for the swift release of unintended catches, such as domestic animals or protected species. Additionally, extreme weather conditions can further impact the welfare of trapped animals, with hot weather leading to dehydration and heatstroke, and cold weather posing the risk of hypothermia. Therefore, it is recommended to check traps more frequently during extreme temperatures.
Thirdly, daily trap checks are important for practical reasons. Some animals, such as raccoons, are intelligent and resourceful and can escape or damage traps if left unattended for too long. Highly attractive bait can also lead to a higher catch rate, requiring more frequent checks. Furthermore, traps set in areas with high predator activity may require more frequent checks to prevent predation on trapped animals.
Finally, remote monitoring technologies, such as trail cameras, can aid in trap monitoring by providing real-time alerts when a trap is triggered. However, these technologies should not replace physical trap checks, as the welfare of the trapped animal depends on a timely response.
In conclusion, checking your traps daily is not only a legal and ethical responsibility but also a practical necessity. By considering the welfare of all animals, both intended targets and unintended catches, trappers can minimize suffering and ensure a more humane and responsible trapping experience.
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