Using blue cross vane traps to collect insects other than bees

It has been well documented that blue cross vane traps (BCVT) can be very effective at trapping non-Apis bees. However, BCVTs do collect other flower-visiting insects as well. Some of these insects may be of interest when investigating pollinating, parasitic, or predatory assemblages. This data was part of a preliminary study focusing on bees. Two prairie hay fields were selected. Each site is hayed once a year and had a tree shelterbelt along at least one edge. Approximately a three-acre portion was left uncut for the duration of the test. One BCVT was placed in the center of each uncut portion. This sampling was conducted in 2010 only. An additional transect of BCVTs was laid out perpendicular to the tree row border in the cut portion of the prairie hay field. Trap distances from the tree row were 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 meters. Transects were used for sampling in 2010 and 2011. In addition to >3,600 bees, over 7,000 other insects and spiders were collected. Notably, a number of individuals from Syrphidae (Diptera) and Vespidae (Hymenoptera) were collected. Collecting flower-visiting insects with BCVTs may serve as an additional means to sample for their diversity. One challenge will be that bee collection will also be high and should be an objective of any study utilizing BCVTs in natural areas.