Aerial insect net Aerial nets are the traditional butterfly nets used to catch flying insects. They are usually constructed with muslin covering a metal ring with an end cone of nylon netting attached to the muslin. You can easily construct your own or purchase one. Sweep net Aerial nets work well in the air but can easily be snagged and ripped when they encounter thorns, or twigs. To gather insects that live on leaves or when sampling a plant, entomologists use sweep nets.
Sweep nets have plastic or heavy fabric covering the metal ring.
The cone is made of heavy muslin. Normally, an aquatic net is made of heavy cloth sides with mesh at the bottom for easy draining. Various lengths of pole can be used in different water depths. If proper net material is not available, wire kitchen strainers or aquarium nets may suffice. A beating sheet is a square cloth stretched with two pieces of wood.