Eight sites on the Caribou National Forest in southeastern Idaho that are dominated by sage (Artemisia) were examined to determine the suitability of various insect traps for surveying the on-site community of insects. Three types of passive, non-baited, traps (pitfall traps, 8-unit Lindgren funnel traps and yellow Japanese beetle traps) were placed in the field during two sampling periods (mid-July and mid-August). The insects collected were sorted by order and family and a comparison made among trap types based upon relative abundance, richness and diversity. All of the traps were effective at capturing a wide variety of insects and there were differences among the trap types in the community members captured. Of note were that Japanese beetle traps were more effective at capturing several groups of pollinators (i.e. various Hymenoptera), while the pitfall traps and funnel traps were more effective at capturing several dominant groups such as ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and several families of beetles (Coleoptera). A trapping strategy to provide the most information on several groups of insects within these sage habitats is presented.