Contact us for a copy of a presentation (pdf) that you can use to introduce learners to the importance of biodiversity, the roles of insects, the impacts of invasive species, the beetle-fungi symbiosis, and the research we are conducting.

The second step is to construct the traps we will use to collect beetles. These methods were pioneered by the researchers that lead the Backyard Bark Beetles project.

You will need the following materials:

• 2-litre plastic cold-drink bottle
• Hand-sanitiser (containing ethanol or equivalent)
• Scissors
• String

Then follow the instructions available here:

Set up traps in areas of your choosing, near trees if possible. We recommend building the traps in your classroom, then allowing the learners to take the traps home and collect beetles in their neighborhood.

We recommend sorting the beetles with your class to increase the educational impact. Beetles can be sorted based on their size and color or more fine- scale differences if you have a microscope (antennae, head and abdomen shapes, etc).  Assessing this diversity might provide an enhanced learning experience about the incredible biodiversity in South Africa. You can also contact us for more ideas to incorporate additional learning objectives.

Send us the beetles you collected so that we can include them in our research. We will identify the beetles and their fungal associates in our laboratory in Stellenbosch.

Submit samples to:

Attn: J. Hulbert or F. Roets,
Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology,
JS Marais Building,
Stellenbosch University,
Matieland, 7600