There are many beneficial insects to be found in a healthy garden, and it’s best to let them go about their business. But, when you’ve identified an insect pest that’s damaging your garden, removing it “by hand”can sometimes be an effective control. However, if you’ve tried to snag a bug or two, you know how elusive they can be.
Many bugs have a “stop, drop, and roll” defense mechanism, and they will fall off of the plant as you reach for them; and once they’re down in the interior of the plant or on the ground, they’ve escaped your grasp. You can use that natural behavior of the bug to your advantage, with a simple homemade bug catcher… what I like to call the Bug Catch-o-matic.
Many bugs have a “stop, drop, and roll” defense mechanism, and they will fall off of the plant as you reach for them; and once they’re down in the interior of the plant or on the ground, they’ve escaped your grasp. You can use that natural behavior of the bug to your advantage, with a simple homemade bug catcher… what I like to call the Bug Catch-o-matic.
To make this simple “trap”, all you need is a milk jug (or similar plastic container), the plastic bag that you carried the milk home in (or similar), and a rubber band.
Step 1: Cut the plastic container in half, just below the handle. As an option, you could just cut the bottom off of the jug if you want to have a deep catcher. However, I find that it’s easier to maneuver the bug catcher if it’s smaller.
Step 2: I like to trim the handles off of the plastic bag, so it’s a more uniform length.
Step 3: Remove the cap from the plastic jug (if it’s not already gone).
Step 4: Turn the jug upside-down, and use a rubber band to attach the opening of the plastic bag to the bottom of the jug (where the cap was).
Step 1: Cut the plastic container in half, just below the handle. As an option, you could just cut the bottom off of the jug if you want to have a deep catcher. However, I find that it’s easier to maneuver the bug catcher if it’s smaller.
Step 2: I like to trim the handles off of the plastic bag, so it’s a more uniform length.
Step 3: Remove the cap from the plastic jug (if it’s not already gone).
Step 4: Turn the jug upside-down, and use a rubber band to attach the opening of the plastic bag to the bottom of the jug (where the cap was).
That’s it! The plastic jug serves as a “bug funnel” with a convenient handle. Just position the Catch-o-matic under the
bug(s) you want to trap, give the stem a shake, and the bugs will usually fall in on their own. You can stroll through the garden and catch a sack full of pests, and simply discard the bag when you’re done. Reload your Bug Catch-o-matic with an empty bag, and you can reuse it as needed.
blog entry and photos by Mark Murphy, CMG
bug(s) you want to trap, give the stem a shake, and the bugs will usually fall in on their own. You can stroll through the garden and catch a sack full of pests, and simply discard the bag when you’re done. Reload your Bug Catch-o-matic with an empty bag, and you can reuse it as needed.
blog entry and photos by Mark Murphy, CMG
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