When we visited Lubomír Masner during August, he showed us his collection net, which he had designed specifically for catching microhymenoptera (usually under 3mm in size). Lubo’s net is different from others because it has a layer of mesh sewn inside the rim that allows insects to pass through but keeps out large leaves, sticks, and other debris. His net is also designed to open on the bottom so that insects can be emptied out into a bag, instead of having to go through the trouble of inverting the net and potentially losing specimens.
As researchers studying microhymenoptera, we thought that it would be great to have these nets in our arsenal of insect collecting gear. But making the nets turned out to be more complicated than we thought.
First, we set out to purchase the materials. The net frame was easy enough to find, but the net material was harder to come by. Lubo had used a special material that had very small holes and would not rip easily. The material he used was pliable enough to swing the net through vegetation, but stiff enough that the contents of the net could easily be emptied into a bag. We figured that the best material to use was the mesh used in silk screen printing, and we started calling all of the printing stores in State College to see if they had any material we could buy. It was an interesting experience explaining to them that we wanted to use the material for making insect nets, not for printing T-shirt designs.
When we had finally gotten the materials together, we then had to actually put it all together. István visited several local seamstresses, but they all refused to make the net because it was too difficult to sewn the mesh inside the rim. István made a temporary net out of alligator clips and duct tape, but this wasn’t going to hold up for serious long-term sampling. Making the net was a tricky job, and we needed someone who had the skills to figure it out.
Fortunately, my mother, Rosemary Trietsch, is very skilled and has sewn everything from dresses to Tae Kwon Do uniforms. When I went home to visit for the holidays, I asked if she could take a look at it and try to figure it out. And she did!
We now have our very own, custom-made nets for catching Ceraphronoidea. When the sampling season starts this spring, we’ll be ready with our new nets!