Bug Camp Sweep Nets Sweep nets are effective in collecting grass-dwelling insects such as praying mantises, grasshoppers, and stink bugs. The net is swung back and forth through vegetation, snatching insects from their perches. Empty lots with tall vegetation or prairies yield great results. Nets can be purchased through science supply companies, such as Carolina Biological Supply or BioQuip. Both photos courtesy of Jane Zimmerman .
Soldier beetles feed on pollen and nectar, and crab spiders prey on insects.
Tall grasses offer another habitat for insects. Praying mantises feed on other insects, like leafhoppers that feed on plant foliage. To learn more about other collecting techniques, click on pitfall traps or malaise traps , or to go back to collecting, click here .