Malaise Traps

The Malaise trap, developed in the 1930s by Swedish entomologist Dr. René Malaise, remains a key passive sampling tool in modern entomology.  Its tent-like design features a sloping roof and a vertical mesh barrier that directs flying insects upward into a collection bottle with preservative.  The design is especially effective for capturing taxa such as Hymenoptera and Diptera.  Innovations in trap design—such as BugDorm's SLAM Trap (Sea, Land, and Air Malaise Trap) and the easy-to-deploy ez-Malaise Trap—have extended use beyond ground level into forest canopies, water surfaces, and remote field sites.  These advancements maintain capture efficiency while enhancing portability and ease of deployment in challenging environments.