This blog is meant to report on small experimental trials, testing various facets of trapping bees and pollinators attracted to color based traps....bowl, pan, vane, moericke, etc. It is also a place where observations and thoughts regarding their effectiveness or ineffectiveness can be posted. Comments are encouraged.

Monday, April 5, 2010

5 April 2010 - 5 March 2010 - 3.25 oz. vs 12 oz. full vs 12 oz. half

Location: Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, MD
Conditions:  Sunny, 80's
Start: 10:30 a.m. April 5
End: 5:00 p.m. April5
Habitat:Mature deciduous woodlands with Spring Beauty understory
Bees: Andrena, Osmia, Lasioglossum, Ceratina, Nomada - Many bees flying around

Experiment: 3.25 ounce white solo cups  were alternated with a completely filled 12 ounce white party store cup and a half-filled white 12 ounce party store cup.  Bowls were spaced 5 m apart and filled with soapy water (unscented laundry detergent and tap water). 
Problem:  I only sprinkled a little laundry detergent into the several gallons of water for the experiment...apparently this was not sufficient, as I saw bees land on the surface tension and fly or crawl out.   I will go back to a more concentrated solution.

Despite low catch there was an indication of a bowl effect with the 3.25 ounce bowls.  However, this needs to be repeated as the 3.25 ounce bowls had been used many times before and may have a lot of residual soap on them.  The 12 oz. bowls had never been used before.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average
12 Oz. Full 0 0 5 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 0.90
12 Oz. Half 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0.50
3.25 Oz. Full 2 0 0 0 5 6 4 1 4 0 2.20



















































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With Natural History there is no need to go to the moon or Madagascar; there is more to find in your woodlot than in our entire solar system.