Pitfall traps are primarily used to sample which type of insects?

• A. Ground-dwelling insects
• B. Aerial insects
• C. Soil-dwelling nematodes
• D. Pollinating insects

Answer: (A)

Pitfall traps are designed to sample organisms that live on the surface of the ground. By sinking a cup or container so its rim is flush with the soil, any insect walking across the ground that slips into the trap cannot easily climb out. This makes pitfall traps especially good for catching ground-dwelling insects that move along or just under the leaf litter, such as many beetles and ants. They’re not effective for aerial insects that fly away, soil-dwelling nematodes that live in the soil matrix, or pollinators that primarily move through flowers and air. So the best match is sampling ground-dwelling insects.