Dry Pitfall Traps

Jason Green · #1 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 08:56 AM

Hi all,

Do any WAB'ers use pitfall traps? I may be interested in experimenting, depending on others experiences/thoughts towards them. Any good hauls?

Thanks in advance!

Take care,

Jason

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 09:03 AM

Ive used them before, baited glass jam jars work well or bottle traps too. Had some good results most of my experience is from doing it in southern europe a few years back but the same would apply here.

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 09:57 AM

Thanks Dan. I'll give it a bash and post any images/results when I try.

jaguarondi · #4 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 10:18 AM

Have used pitfall traps loads in the past - both for work and my own interst.

If they're going to stay in one place for a while then best ones are those that fit inside a sleeve so that pulling them out doesn't disturb the soil too much.

Different methods catch slightly different species profiles. So with pitfalls you would obtain some different species to searching on the ground or through leaf litter you've brought home say, though obviously there would be lots of overlap. At least, that was my experience.

If they're going to stay in place for more than a day or so unchecked then leave a twig inside long enough to poke out at the top so that mice, voles etc can crawl out, but put leaf litter in the bottom so that insects aren't tempted to do the same.

thunder · #5 (**permalink**) 21-09-2009, 01:11 PM

Bear in mind, too, that any hungry carnivorous creatures that fall in will be delighted to find themselves surrounded by gentler beasties that are just saying "Which way is out?"

henrya

Monkey Orchid · #6 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 06:56 AM

When I've used them I always put a roof of some sort over the top, e.g. a tile or plastic lid propped up on a couple of stones/twigs etc, leaving a big enough gap for critters to wander in. Then if it rains, your pitfall trap won't fill with water.

Meta menardi · #7 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 09:04 AM

For a quick and cheap go at this, 2 disposable plastic cups and a bulb planter will work very well. Make the hole with the bulb planter, put the 2 cups in and then when you have got something, take one cup out and the second keeps the hole neat. You can very quickly get swamped by material.