Cainschams
New Member
I recently asked about a good way to trap ground dwelling spiders and other bugs. Someone informed me about these traps. Here is how I made my first of quite a few.
1. Snag whatever size smooth plastic container you like. I chose a deeper one so things that can jump have a harder time getting out.
2. Place the container on the ground and cut around it with a shovel.
3. Dig up the patch of sod you cut around and place to the side. Dig your hole a few inches deeper than the container. Fill the hole with a couple inches of good drainage material. I just used rocks and sand. Make sure not to fill it up too far. You will want the top of the container right a dirt level or just a smidge lower.
4. Poke some holes with a nail, drill bit or whatever into the container. I poked them just on one side and sat the container in the hole so it slopes very slightly to that side. Place the container in the hole and fill it with the loose dirt. Once you get about an inch from the top cut your sod to fit the outline of the container. The place I chose had very sparse grass so I will be planting grass seed there. You can see the poked holes in the pic.
5. Get some rocks, brick or whatever you like that is an inch or two high. Place them on the corners of the container. Get a piece of wood etc. I used corrugated PVC board for making signs. Cut the board to the desired size, place on the "risers" and place something heavy on each corner. This will help shield it from the weather and also provide a shady area for bugs when it is hot. Drop a little bit of fruit or veggies in the container to hopefully attract more bugs.
The first spot I chose to put one is right by my foundation which is shaded pretty much constantly. I find lots of bugs crawling on the foundation and also on the ground right beside it. They like the coolness of it. Im going to be putting a few in the flower type garden and fruit and veggie garden once the weather starts warming up a bit. Still see some bugs here and there. Im setting up a light trap for night time flying insects so the only thing I should really have to work to catch are hopper type species. No paying for bugs in the warmer seasons!!!!
1. Snag whatever size smooth plastic container you like. I chose a deeper one so things that can jump have a harder time getting out.
2. Place the container on the ground and cut around it with a shovel.
3. Dig up the patch of sod you cut around and place to the side. Dig your hole a few inches deeper than the container. Fill the hole with a couple inches of good drainage material. I just used rocks and sand. Make sure not to fill it up too far. You will want the top of the container right a dirt level or just a smidge lower.
4. Poke some holes with a nail, drill bit or whatever into the container. I poked them just on one side and sat the container in the hole so it slopes very slightly to that side. Place the container in the hole and fill it with the loose dirt. Once you get about an inch from the top cut your sod to fit the outline of the container. The place I chose had very sparse grass so I will be planting grass seed there. You can see the poked holes in the pic.
5. Get some rocks, brick or whatever you like that is an inch or two high. Place them on the corners of the container. Get a piece of wood etc. I used corrugated PVC board for making signs. Cut the board to the desired size, place on the "risers" and place something heavy on each corner. This will help shield it from the weather and also provide a shady area for bugs when it is hot. Drop a little bit of fruit or veggies in the container to hopefully attract more bugs.
The first spot I chose to put one is right by my foundation which is shaded pretty much constantly. I find lots of bugs crawling on the foundation and also on the ground right beside it. They like the coolness of it. Im going to be putting a few in the flower type garden and fruit and veggie garden once the weather starts warming up a bit. Still see some bugs here and there. Im setting up a light trap for night time flying insects so the only thing I should really have to work to catch are hopper type species. No paying for bugs in the warmer seasons!!!!
