instructions manualbackyardbarkbeetles.org/documents/instructions manual.pdf · 2016-03-24 ·...
TRANSCRIPT
INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL www.backyardbarkbeetles.org
Backyard Science with Bugs!The citizen science project Backyard Bark Beetles is seeking participants for their
research on some of the tiny, amazing animals that live in our backyards. This fun and exciting project offers a hands-on way to learn about some of the cool critters around us and participants will contribute to serious scientific research.
Why collect Bark & Ambrosia Beetles?
Because they are…
Important to the environmento Bark and ambrosia beetles are tiny wood boring insects that affect tree
and forest health. Native species are important to forest decomposition
and nutrient recycling and typically only attack dead or dying trees. BUT,
invasive species often attack live trees and can sometimes wipe out whole
populations of trees!
Economically importanto Bark and ambrosia beetles are among some of the more economically
important forest pests. Some species damage timber and landscape plants,
but they can also attack fruit and nut trees and cause agricultural problems
for farmers.
A growing threato The tiny size and wood boring habit of these animals means that they are
both easy to transport and hard to find! They are a growing problem as
invasive species and are the most commonly intercepted insect at U.S.
ports-of-entry. Once they get here, they’re very hard to get rid of, making
early detection really important.
Awesome!o These little bitty beetles can cause some big problems, but they also do
some really amazing stuff. They grow gardens of tiny mushrooms for food,
have bizarre mating habits, and can call together large gatherings using
chemical attractants called pheromones.
Why Participate?
Participants will...
Contribute to scienceo Backyard Bark Beetles provides a rare opportunity for the public to
participate in real-world scientific research! Participants will help to
advance our understanding of the tiny, hidden world of bark and ambrosia
beetles, which will help us to protect trees and forests.
Learn what lives in your back yardo Backyard Bark Beetles provides a free identification service for some of the
coolest, but least well known insects that live all around. You catch and
send in beetles, then we identify them and tell you what you caught! We
even have an interactive map on our website so you can see pictures of
the species you caught and see what others have caught too!
Have fun!o This project is great for youth groups especially. Anyone can do it! It’s
easy, inexpensive, and fun.
See www.backyardbarkbeetles.org to learn more!
This is a drawing of a bark beetle gallery.
It consists of a series of tunnels made by
a bark beetle family on the underside of
the bark as they feed and grow together.
Bark and ambrosia beetles are really
tiny, some are smaller than a sesame
seed, but when you look up close,
they look really cool! Like this...
Backyard Bark Beetles
Take Home Project
Here’s what you need:
Internet Access
to visit our website
www.backyardbarkbeetles.org
+ + +
+ + +
Beetle Bottle Trap Alcohol based hand sanitizer Sturdy twine, string,
or rope
A place near trees or
shrubs to hang your trap
Zip top freezer bags A spoon A data sheet
(provided below)
A Pencil
Do Not Use a Pen
Here’s what you do:
1 2 3 4
5 6 7
Repeat
(up to 3 times total)
8
Check out the Beetle Mapto see what you caught!
Be sure to get them all!
Scoop your beetles into a zip
top freezer bag the next day. Double bag your beetles
and place in the freezer Hang your trap in the late
afternoon, add ½ cup of hand
sanitizer, and leave it overnight
Sign up for the
project online
Just rinse the trap with water
and it’s ready to be reused!
Fill out the data sheet
in pencil
Mail everything in. We will
email you once your beetles
have been identified