Two novel flight-interception trap designs for low-cost forest insect surveys

This paper introduces two passive trap designs for the survey of flying Coleoptera and other insects which can be constructed on very low budgets at < £1 per trap. A trunk window trap and an aerial flight-interception trap are presented, based on commonly used designs, but using much cheaper materials than standard. Construction diagrams are given, along with a description of trap installation, operation and beetle species found using these methods during a survey of Ayr Gorge Woodland, South-West Scotland. The traps were found to be robust and easy to operate. It is hoped that these trap designs will be of use to charitable organisations, students and amateurs who may previously have been unable to consider monitoring flying insects at large scales due to the prohibitive cost of equipment