1*1 



June 1956 ARS-33-22 



UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

 Agricultural Research Service 



AN INSECT TRAP 

 By P. A. Godwin, Forest Service 



The trap (fig. 1) described below was developed for population and 

 ecological studies of the white pine weevil. The traps were used to col- 

 lect weevils as they moved up the stems of white pines after emerging 

 from hibernation. Since many other insect species were collected in the 

 trap, it is thought that the trap may have wider application. The traps 

 have been used on trees varying from % inch to 5 inches in diameter at 

 the trapping point. 



The trap consists of two parts: (1) A canopy of clear acetate sheet- 

 ing and (2) a platform of waxed jute tag (fig. 2). Before the traps can be 

 constructed, the diameter of the plants must be taken at the point where 

 the traps are to be placed. This has been done with a diameter tape, 

 measuring to the nearest l/lO inch. 



The canopy is cut directly from 0.005-inch acetate sheeting, with- 

 out preliminary marking, by using sharp dividers or a scriber. If the 

 scribe marks are sufficiently deep, bending the plastic along the scribed 

 lines will produce a clean break. 



Dividers are used to lightly scribe the dimensions of the platforms 

 on the jute tag. (Heavy scribing of the inner dimension will cause the 

 platform to collapse in wet weather.) Three concentric circles are 

 marked off. The innermost circle has a diameter equal to that of the 

 stem on which the trap is to be placed. The diameter of the second 

 circle is l/8 inch larger than the first. When cut out, this provides 

 space between the platform and stem for the insect to enter the trap. 

 The outer circle is drawn to provide a 1-inch platform. The number and 

 width of the flaps will depend on the size of the trap. They vary from two 

 l/4-inch flaps on the smaller platforms to six l/2-inch flaps on the 

 larger platforms. 



Mr. Godwin is stationed at the Forest Insect and Disease Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut, 

 which is maintained by the Northeastern Forest Fxperiment Station. This description is pub- 

 lished in the ARS-33 series since it is of interest to entomologists in general. 



