Formicidae are most abundant in all fields. Staphylinidae were slightly less common in the large field. The collection date is indicated on the X-axis. Please note that the scale on the Y axis is not the same for the three graphs. In 1999 we also used baited pitfall traps.
Baited traps collect insects attracted to the odor of rotting carrion.
Bait traps were only employed in 1999, and the the bait used was octopus. The Silphidae were very abundant in the prairie sample. This was expected because they are flying beetles and the prairie provides a clear flight path. During the second collecting period, July 14 through July 28, the numbers of most beetles decreased with the exception of the Silphidae and Ptiliidae. The Ptiliidae numbers increased.