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| The first step in collecting leiodids is locating some fungus, on which most of 'em feed. Polypores are a good indicator of log decay. |
Polypore fungi are also some of the easiest to spot. |
In New Zealand, polypores are often inhabitated by Zearagytodes maculifer, a ubiquitous agyrtodine. here, grazing groups of Z. mac adults and larvae roam across the underside of shelf fungi. |
A myxomycete-like fungus from Australia |
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| Sifting leaf litter and soil is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to find leiodids, although sorting though a pile of sifted soil takes considerable patience (and keen eyesight). |
Bait for a carrion trap. Organ meat. I think. |
The bait of choice for leiodids (and many other staphylinoids) is rotting squid. This is a frozen wad of squid tentacles, thawing in my hotel sink. |
Setting a carrion-baited pitfall trap in Chile. A small cheesecloth package of ripe squid is suspended over a large plastic cup. |
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| A well-disguised hanging carrion trap. This trap method avoids buildup of rainwater, and prevents accidental bycatch of small terrestrial animals. |
Inside the hanging trap: a bounty of silphids. Hanging from the top is the "bait" package. |
The most efficient way to collect fungus beetles: pyrethrin fogging. We use a biodegradable, fast-knockdown insecticidal spray to send beetles scurrying off a fungusy log and onto a white sheet below. |
Sorting through the output of a log-fogging event: sometimes it can be tricky to discern exactly which tiny brown beetles are the ones you want... |