Pan Trap Designs for Monitoring Pollinators and Other Beneficial Insects in Conservation Gardens

Abstract

Flowering ornamental plant species have the potential to support beneficial insect communities such as pollinating bees, wasps, and predatory plant bugs. We compared pan trap color, size, and placement height for sampling of insects in replicated conservation gardens planted with species selected to act as a conservation resource for pollinators and other beneficials. Of the 14 combinations of color, size, and height placement, yellow bowls (14.5-mm diam., 8.5 mm high) placed on the soil substrate captured the greatest numbers and diversity of pollinator and beneficial insect taxa. During the study, 16 species of bees were collected and identified, with Lasioglossum (Dialictus) imitatum Smith and Halictus ligatus Say (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) being the most abundant species collected, primarily in the yellow bowl pan traps at ground level.