Today, we’re diving into an exciting project happening in the town of Hanover. The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation has teamed up with the town to transform an old soybean field into a thriving prairie. They’ve been working on this for about six years, and now we’re here to explore the fascinating world of insects that call this place home.
One of the tools used in this project is a carrion trap. This trap uses the smell of rotting meat, specifically chicken liver, to attract insects. Inside the trap, you’ll find creatures like millipedes, grasshoppers, and carrion beetles. The smaller insects will be identified later under a microscope at the museum.
In this prairie, there are at least six different types of millipedes. These creatures are interesting because they have varying numbers of legs and body segments. Even their reproductive organs are located in different places on their bodies, making them unique study subjects.
To ensure the safety of mammals, the traps use propylene glycol, a non-toxic substance. This helps insects sink into the trap rather than float, making it easier to collect them for study.
The chicken liver, wrapped in gauze, has been left out for about two and a half days to attract carrion-eating beetles. Some beetles, like the Nicrophorus marginatus, are indicators of a healthy prairie ecosystem. Finding these beetles is a sign that the restoration efforts are working well.
After six years of hard work, this area is becoming a vibrant prairie. A healthy prairie attracts a variety of wildlife, including birds and mammals. The presence of beneficial insects contributes to a more diverse and balanced ecosystem.
In addition to carrion traps, pitfall traps are used without bait. These sometimes catch small mammals, which are collected for research. This ensures that nothing goes to waste and contributes to scientific understanding.
Interestingly, many spiders are not attracted to the smell of carrion. However, a wide range of insects and spiders have been collected in just four weeks, and even more are expected to be found over the summer.
This method of collecting insects is both low-cost and easy to set up. With basic materials, anyone can create their own traps and explore the insect world around them.
The beauty of this area and the joy of collecting insects have been a rewarding experience for those involved. For someone who has been collecting insects for 17-18 years, it’s a dream to get paid for doing something they love.
To aid in the collection efforts, a mercury halide light is used. This light helps attract insects, making it easier to study and understand the diverse species living in the prairie.
Gather materials to create a simple carrion trap using chicken liver and gauze. Set it up in a safe outdoor area and observe the types of insects it attracts over a few days. Document your findings and compare them with the insects mentioned in the article.
Research the anatomy of millipedes and create a detailed diagram showing their body segments and reproductive organs. Share your diagram with the class and discuss the differences between the various types of millipedes found in the prairie.
Using simple materials like a cup and a cover, build a pitfall trap in your backyard or school garden. Check the trap daily and record the types of insects or small mammals you catch. Discuss the importance of ethical trapping and releasing methods.
Collect a variety of insects from your local area and use a microscope or magnifying glass to identify them. Create a presentation or poster showcasing the diversity of insects you found, highlighting any similarities to those in the prairie restoration project.
Conduct an experiment using a light source, such as a flashlight, to attract insects at night. Observe which types of insects are drawn to the light and hypothesize why certain species are more attracted than others. Share your observations with the class.
We’re here today because the town of Hanover and the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation have acquired this old soybean field and are restoring it as a prairie. They’ve been working here for about six years, and we’re surveying the insect population.
This is a carrion trap. It had four ounces of chicken liver in it, which hung over the bucket. The trap attracts insects with the smell of the rotting meat. There are millipedes, grasshoppers, and carrion beetles in here. Identifying the smaller insects will happen back at the museum under a microscope.
There are at least six different orders of millipedes in this prairie, and they vary in the number of legs and body segments. Their reproductive organs can be located in different places on their bodies.
We use propylene glycol in the traps because it’s not toxic to mammals. This mixture helps ensure that when insects fall in, they sink instead of floating on the surface.
The chicken liver, wrapped in gauze, has been sitting out for about two and a half days at room temperature, attracting carrion-eating beetles. Some beetles, like Nicrophorus marginatus, are indicators of high-quality prairies, and finding them shows the health of the ecosystem.
After six years of restoration, this area is becoming a healthy prairie, which will attract birds, mammals, and other wildlife. The presence of good insects leads to a more diverse ecosystem.
We also have pitfall traps without bait, which occasionally catch small mammals. Nothing goes to waste, as these specimens are collected for research.
Interestingly, many spiders are repulsed by the smell of carrion, and we have collected a diverse range of insects and spiders in just four weeks. We expect to find even more over the summer.
This method of collecting insects is low-cost and accessible to anyone. You can set up traps with basic materials for a minimal expense.
It’s a beautiful area, and I’ve been collecting insects in the field for 17-18 years. I find great joy in this work, and it’s rewarding to get paid for something I love.
This is a mercury halide light that we’ll use for our collection efforts.
Prairie – A large, open area of grassland, especially in North America, that is home to many different plants and animals. – The prairie is an important habitat for species like bison and prairie dogs.
Insects – Small arthropods with a three-part body, usually having wings and three pairs of legs, that play various roles in ecosystems. – Insects like bees are crucial for pollinating many of the plants in our gardens and farms.
Restoration – The process of returning an ecosystem or habitat to its original state after it has been damaged or degraded. – The restoration of the wetland helped bring back many bird species that had disappeared from the area.
Beetles – A group of insects with hard wing cases, known for their diversity and roles in decomposing organic matter. – Beetles help break down dead wood and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Millipedes – Long, segmented arthropods with two pairs of legs per segment, known for feeding on decaying plant material. – Millipedes play a vital role in the ecosystem by helping to decompose leaf litter on the forest floor.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. – The coral reef ecosystem is home to a wide variety of marine life, including fish, corals, and sea turtles.
Wildlife – Animals and plants that live and grow in natural conditions, not domesticated or cultivated by humans. – Protecting wildlife is essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems around the world.
Collection – The act of gathering specimens or samples for study, often used in scientific research to understand biodiversity. – The biologist’s collection of plant samples helped identify new species in the rainforest.
Traps – Devices used to capture animals, often for research purposes, without harming them. – Scientists set up traps to safely catch and study small mammals in the forest.
Biodiversity – The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, important for ecological health and resilience. – High biodiversity in a rainforest means there are many different species of plants and animals living together.
