"MEADOW SWEEPERS"

Collecting Guide for Insect Sweep Net Use

prepared by Trish Smith, Warrensburg Middle School, 9/04

1. Your job is to take turns with your teammates to slowly and methodically sweep the entire meadow area assigned to your block. Move the sweep net back and forth across the ground and up and down over the bushes and taller plants. Keep the net moving and then close it quickly by grasping it closed with one hand. You and your partner should then be ready with tweezers and aspirator to collect insects and place in an open jar of alcohol. Open the net slowly...a little at a time. Work quickly, as many insects will fly out. Be sure to look very closely for tiny, hard to see insects...we want those, too.

2. You will need to label the alcohol jars with your block and date.

3. Remember to use tweezers for larger insects and the aspirator (sucker) for the tiny ones. You will block the suction pipe if you try to suck up larger insects. Slowly open the net, a little bit at a time, and be cautious of bees.

4. If you trade jobs, be sure that the aspirator's mouthpiece is wiped thoroughly with alcohol from the large bottle in the "kit". There are paper towels in a ziploc bag for this purpose.

5. BE CAREFUL WITH THE ASPIRATORS! DO NOT TWIST OR PUSH ON THE MOUTHPIECE TUBE OR YOU WILL LOOSEN THE NET THAT KEEPS THE BUGS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.