INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL - backyardbarkbeetles.org

1 INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL Backyard Science with Bugs!The citizen science project Backyard bark Beetles is seeking participants for theirresearch on some of the tiny, amazing animals that live in our backyards. This fun and exciting project offers a hands-on way to learn about some of the cool critters around us and participants will contribute to serious scientific research. Why collect bark & Ambrosia Beetles?Because they Important to the environmentoBark and ambrosia beetles are tiny wood boring insects that affect treeand forest health. Native species are important to forest decompositionand nutrient recycling and typically only attack dead or dying trees. BUT,invasive species often attack live trees and can sometimes wipe out wholepopulations of trees! Economically importantoBark and ambrosia beetles are among some of the more economicallyimportant forest pests.

2 Some species damage timber and landscape plants,but they can also attack fruit and nut trees and cause agricultural problemsfor farmers. A growing threatoThe tiny size and wood boring habit of these animals means that they areboth easy to transport and hard to find! They are a growing problem asinvasive species and are the most commonly intercepted insect at Once they get here, they re very hard to get rid of, makingearly detection really important. Awesome!oThese little bitty beetles can cause some big problems, but they also dosome really amazing stuff. They grow gardens of tiny mushrooms for food,have bizarre mating habits, and can call together large gatherings usingchemical attractants called Participate? Participants Contribute to scienceoBackyard bark Beetles provides a rare opportunity for the public toparticipate in real-world scientific research!

3 Participants will help toadvance our understanding of the tiny, hidden world of bark and ambrosiabeetles, which will help us to protect trees and forests. Learn what lives in your back yardoBackyard bark Beetles provides a free identification service for some of thecoolest, but least well known insects that live all around. You catch andsend in beetles, then we identify them and tell you what you caught! Weeven have an interactive map on our website so you can see pictures ofthe species you caught and see what others have caught too! Have fun!oThis project is great for youth groups especially. Anyone can do it! It seasy, inexpensive, and to learn more! This is a drawing of a bark beetle gallery. It consists of a series of tunnels made by a bark beetle family on the underside of the bark as they feed and grow together. bark and ambrosia beetles are really tiny, some are smaller than a sesame seed, but when you look up close, they look really cool!

4 Like Backyard bark BeetlesTake Home Project Here s what you need: Internet Access to visit our website ++++++ beetle Bottle Trap Alcohol based hand sanitizer Sturdy twine, string, or rope A place near trees or shrubs to hang your trap Zip top freezer bags A spoon A data sheet (provided below) A Pencil Do Not Use a Pen Here s what you do: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Repeat (up to 3 times total) 8 Check out the beetle Mapto see what you caught! Be sure to get them all! Scoop your beetles into a zip top freezer bag the next day. Double bag your beetles and place in the freezer Hang your trap in the late afternoon, add cup of hand sanitizer, and leave it overnight Sign up for the project online Just rinse the trap with water and it s ready to be reused! Fill out the data sheet in pencil Mail everything in.

5 We will email you once your beetles have been identified