A Device for Sampling Aquatic Insects Associated with Carrion in Water

A device that permits the sampling of aquatic insects associated with carcasses in water with minimal disturbance of the natural environment is described. A field study conducted in early summer documented strictly aquatic insects recovered from decaying pig carcasses in an Iowa freshwater lake using this sampling method. Forty carcasses of newborn pigs were placed in the devices and removed at two-day intervals to simulate a complete decomposition sequence. Twenty species of insects from twelve families in five orders were documented, along with water mites (Arachnida:Acari) and amphipods (Crustacea:Amphipoda).