The Metchosin Foundation helps to fund a long-term study of Metchosin insect populations. The study, coordinated by University of Victoria’s Dr. Neville Winchester, will enter its third summer in 2020.
To measure the insect populations, sample insects are collected during the summer months at properties throughout Metchosin using Malaise traps (picture above). The traps are tent-like structures that funnel flying insects into collection bottles. The bottles are changed every two weeks. The bottles, filled with preservative, are then taken to a central location.
During the winter months, after the traps have come down, the insects in the bottles are sorted, counted, and weighed. In 2018, 132,000 insects were collected. The count for the 2019 collection is going on now. The expectation is that the count from the 2019 season will be much larger–perhaps 300,000 insects.
You may have seen the traps at some of their Metchosin locations. Metchosin Foundation supporters may be interested in the less visible part of the study–how the count actuallly happens. On January 31, Metchosin Foundation Director Kem Luther visited the lab at the University of Victoria where the insects are tallied. Here is his account of the procedure