Can anyone recommend a good insect pooter?

[nikolai_avenger]

Hello..

As the title says, can anyone recommend (somewhere to get) a good insect 'pooter' ?

Many thanks in advance!

Cheers. Nik.

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Nik,

I got the little plastic one from the NHBS (Natural History BookStore). You can't really go wrong for just £6 inc. p&p. Only thing is it took about 10 days to arrive.

One consideration is the width of the intake tube, as this may affect the sort of things you can catch. This model is about 6.5mm and so wide enough to take the odd small Andrenid. Most other stuff is easier. It's a great accompaniment with a beating-tray.

Don't forget to buy the small clear plastic screw-top jars to go with it. I usually get about 10 specimens before having to quickly swap over containers - do so in the shade, and the process of which gets easier with practice.

There are other more 'professional' types around, glass containers with rubber bungs and tubes, but I'll let others who have experience with those tell you.

Finally, inhaling may be a little harder than thought but bare with it, it strengthens the lungs! Well, that's what I tell myself...

Take care,

Jason

[Matt Smith]

Personally, I would not bother with the NHBS type model, its one of the "cheap and cheerful" ones often sold for kids in "nature detective " type sets. They do work and you can poot insects up, but the seal on the tubes is generally poor and you often have to work quite hard to get sufficient "suck power" as there is so much air leakage. They also tend to get scratched and opaque very easily.

I have used a perspex barreled pooter pooter from Watkins and Doncaster for many years. After several years the corks can get a little worn and lose but they are simple enough to replace or shim up with a wrap of tissue paper. Also never had any problems with the perspex and ethyl acetate.

Watkins & Doncaster Pooters

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

Personally, I would not bother with the NHBS type model, its one of the "cheap and cheerful" ones often sold for kids in "nature detective " type sets. They do work and you can poot insects up, but the seal on the tubes is generally poor and you often have to work quite hard to get sufficient "suck power" as there is so much air leakage. They also tend to get scratched and opaque very easily.

'Cheap and cheerful' was the reason I bought it - test out pooters and ease of collection, and if I didn't get on too well with it then it was only £6. No great loss. I have, get on with it very well indeed and now, as things stand, don't have sufficient reason to 'upgrade' with my current pretensions in mind.

I don't use a killing fluid with it; I transfer the relevant catch to a separate vessel.

[nikolai_avenger]

Gents, many thanks for your input and considerations, it is greatly appreciated.

Cheers. Nik.