Insect

           Pooter

Insect observers have great fun using pooters. A pooter is an essential tool for collecting insects for observation purposes. Pooters can be made easily, with glass jars and plastic tubing.

Requirements

• A glass jar with a lid
• Scissors
• Blue tac or plasticine
• A small piece of muslin
• A small elastic band
• A 40 cm length of plastic tubing, 8mm in diameter.

  This is available from suppliers of educational science equipment and from some garden centres.

Method

Cut the plastic tubing into two lengths.

Make two holes in the lid to accommodate the tubing. Use a scissors to do this. Insert a piece of tubing into each hole, so that about 3cm is inside the jar. Secure the tubes and seal any gaps with blue tac or plasticine.

Place a piece of muslin on the end of one piece of tubing (inside the lid), with an elastic band.

Put the lid on the jar. It is now ready for use.

Using the Pooter

Place the end of the tube, without the muslin, near a creature on a leaf, such as a ladybird.

Suck through the tube with the muslin. This draws air into the jar and carries insect with it.

The muslin protects the user from swallowing the insect!

Text:Paddy Madden
Illustrations:Eileen Fleming
Editor:Marian Rollins
Design:Taran Pyper