As the leaf litter dries out and heats up, the insects move downward and fall into the container. This catches silverfish, springtails, small beetles, and other decomposers. If you carry insects in a car, use a cooler to protect the insects from overheating. A small piece of ice or a couple of cold cans of soda will keep the cooler at a comfortable temperature for most short trips. Leaving insects in the shade or a backpack may not provide enough protection on hot days.
Insects overheat very quickly and sitting in a warm car can end in death in a couple of minutes.
If moisture starts forming on the inside of the container, get it to a cool place as quickly as possible. Stabilize items in the cooler to reduce rolling and other disturbances to the insects during transportation. Containers Many different kinds of containers can be used to collect arthropods. Old margarine, cottage cheese and deli containers are all options. If the container is not clear, label the container so that you do not have to open the lid to see what is inside.