Mason Jar Bug Catcher (Pooter/Insect Aspirator)

thingiverse

I made a bug catcher as a kid with two straws, a pickle jar and some pantyhose. I used it to catch spiders and bugs around the farm and observe them closely. This design is meant to share the wonder for the natural world that the bug catcher gave me. The printable lid replaces the metal lid of a mason jar and is secured by the metal band tightly. A piece of vinyl tubing (3/8 inch outer diameter, 1/4 inch inner) is inserted in the stem securely. The design has a printed mesh to prevent the inhalation of larger insects from happening. However, for finer filtration consider covering the hole with cheesecloth, gauze, nylon stocking or some other fine netting. To operate effectively, hover the vinyl tube over the insect you wish to capture and suck through the printed tube quickly. The bug is in the jar immediately. I created four variations of the design. Two that do not include the printed mesh if it proves too difficult to print successfully. And two that use two lengths of vinyl tubing instead of one length. When you are done observing the bugs, it's best practice to try to return them to as near as possible to where you found them originally.