PEET - Austral Staphylinidae

Methods | Collecting Methods for Staphylinidae and other Staphylinoidea | Direct Collecting Methods: Blacklighting

Blacklighting in general is described in detail under Indirect Collecting Methods. To use this technique as a direct collecting method we hang a white sheet from our vehicle or a rope between trees and hang the black light in front of the sheet. Insects are attracted to the light and land on the sheet where they are collected straight into ethanol using a pooter. It can get pretty crowded around a black light at times, with lots of excitement about the multitude of insects attracted.

Different staphylinids and other beetles fly at different times throughout the night, so in order to collect a representative sample of species from a habitat, it is best to continue collecting throughout the evening. So we usually begin collecting around dusk and continue on into full darkness depending on success. Direct collecting from a blacklight lets us avoid collecting numerous moths and other non-target insects, which are frequently collected when a blacklight trap is used, and can make a mess of the sample. It also allows live collection for rearing or observation and we have a lot of fun observing various rove beetles arriving at light.

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