Soil photo-eclector

Soil photo-eclector – Insect trap for sampling on soils

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Eclector to collect arthropods living on the soil surface and hatching in soils. Can be used to determine hatching abundances (especially of strata changing arthropods) and to collect biological and phenological data. 

Available in tow sizes - ¼ m² and 1 m². 

Barber pitfall traps can be used to determine arthropods crawling on the ground. These are interchangeable and attached using Velcro integrated in the tent roof.

  • To trap phototactic reacting animals
  • Easy to use
  • Combinable with Barber pitfall traps
  • Tent fabric available: light, black or as gauze
Base frame
Material: Plastic grey or aluminium plates
Side height: ca. 25 cm, extension possible
Tent
Material: robust, breathable tent fabric, optionally light or black, special version with white gauze cover
Tent holder
Material: Stainless steel
Head box nozzle
Material: Plastic, inner side roughened
Diameter: 7,5 cm
Eclector head box
Head box: Clear, translucent, unbreakable plastic splice-free
Lid: Polystyrene
Diameter: 15 cm
Height: 11 cm
Frequently asked questions about "Outdoor (collection devices)":

The arthropods emerging from the soil in spring and summer are quantitatively captured in soil photoelectors; the evaluation can be carried out both in terms of their density (number of individuals per unit area) and - for life cycle questions - in terms of their temporal occurrence (phenologically). Spiders, weaver crabs, centipedes and isopods are only incompletely recorded in soil photoelectors, as they are not pronounced strata changers. They are determined in absolute density in two ways: Hand selection and heat extraction with a selection apparatus according to KEMPSON.

(Michael Mühlenberg: Outdoor Ecology. 3rd, revised edition. UTB, 1993, P. 422, ISBN 3-8252-0595-9)

The "ecoVAC" insect vacuum cleaner is suitable for this purpose. It is powered by a combustion engine and can be used independently in the field. The generated vacuum sucks the arthropods into a sample bag, which can be easily exchanged in the field.

Bundesamt für Naturschutz (Federal Agency for Nature Conservation), Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency), Gesellschaft für Ökologie e.V (The Ecological Society). and various ecological institutes of many universities