Pitfall Traps

A pitfall trap consists of a suitable wide-mouthed container sunk in the soil so its opening is flush with the ground surface. Containers ranging from disposable plastic cups to ice cream containers or plastic buckets are suitable. They can be used dry or with water and a squirt of detergent added. The detergent ensures that insects sink and drown rapidly when they fall into the trap.  Pitfall traps collect invertebrates which walk over the ground surface, especially beetles, spiders, ants and myriapods such as millipedes.

An example of pitfall traps used in a scientific investigation can be found in the Terrestrial Invertebrate Status Review of Brisbane.