Dual-Headed Design for Flight Direction Studies

The ez-Migration trap, also called the two-headed Malaise trap, is a modular field-sampling device designed to collect flying insects moving in either direction across a central panel.  This configuration reduces orientation concerns and enables comparisons of insect movement patterns.

The ez-Migration trap intercepts insects from both sides of a vertical barrier, channeling them into separate collection bottles at each end.  It combines replaceable modular components with a shock-corded pole framework for rapid assembly in open or remote field sites.

Detailed Description

Some entomologists have observed that east-facing collection heads on classical Malaise traps tend to fill during morning hours, while west-facing heads fill during the afternoon; a common compromise is to face the head south.  By placing a collection head at each end, the ez-Migration trap minimizes such orientation effects and simultaneously helps identify flight direction, because insects intercepted on each side of the center panel are kept separate.

The new modular design lets you purchase and replace individual parts in case of loss or damage.  To replace the collection head or fabric trap body, refer to the “Trap Collection Head” manual included in the package for step-by-step instructions.

Fast & Easy — set up in minutes.  Assembly is as straightforward as our ez-Malaise traps: shock-corded poles connect quickly, and clips secure the fabric to the frame.  The structure is nearly freestanding and requires a minimum of two guy ropes, which is especially useful where there are no trees nearby.  This portability also makes the trap suitable for short-term surveys where repositioning is needed.

Functional Advantages

• Dual collection heads: Capture insects from both sides for flight-direction analysis.
• Reduced orientation bias: Mitigates variation caused by trap heading relative to sun position.
• Modular system: Replace individual components (e.g., collection heads, fabric body) without replacing the entire trap.
• Quick assembly: Shock-corded pole framework with clip attachment for rapid field setup.
• Portable structure: Nearly freestanding; needs only two guy ropes for stability in open landscapes.

Pack Contents

• x1 Fabric Trap Body
• x2 Shock-corded Poles (L459 cm)
• x2 Collection Heads (pre-installed)
• x6 Collection Bottles (x2 pre-installed)
• x10 Guy Ropes
• x10 Plastic X-Stakes
• x8 Alloy Pin Stakes
• x1 Carrying Bag

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Related Literature from the Past 10 Years

• The Hemiptera (Insecta) of Canada: Constructing a Reference Library of DNA Barcodes.  Gwiazdowski et al. (2015).  PLoS One, 10(4), e0125635.
• DNA barcoding in diverse educational settings: five case studies.  Henter et al. (2016).  Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B, 371(1702), 20150340.
• The School Malaise Trap Program: coupling educational outreach with scientific discovery.  Steinke et al. (2017).  PLoS Biology, 15(4), e2001829.
• Arthropods in modern resins reveal if amber accurately recorded forest arthropod communities.  Solórzano Kraemer et al. (2018).  PNAS, 115(26), 6739–6744.
• Expedited assessment of terrestrial arthropod diversity by coupling Malaise traps with DNA barcoding.  deWaard et al. (2019).  Genome, 62(3), 85–95.
• Using DNA-barcoded Malaise trap samples to measure impact of a geothermal energy project on biodiversity.  Janzen et al. (2020).  Genome, 63(9), 407–436.
• A Review of Terrestrial and Canopy Malaise Traps.  Michael et al. (2021).  Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 114(1), 27–47.
• Peering into the Darkness: DNA Barcoding Reveals High Diversity of Unknown Diptera in Germany.  Chimeno et al. (2022).  Insects, 13(1), 82.
• Optimizing insect metabarcoding using replicated mock communities.  Iwaszkiewicz-Eggebrecht et al. (2023).  Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14(4), 1130–1146.
• Global arthropod beta-diversity is structured by latitude in space and time.  Seymour et al. (2024).  Communications Biology, 7(1), 552.