Tag: clay models

turfgrass clay model prey experiment setup

How Insect Interactions Vary by Height in Turfgrass

Much like the different environments of a forest floor and treetops, interactions among insects and related arthropods vary within the much smaller-scale vertical zones of a turfgrass “canopy.” Researchers using clay models of caterpillars to lure predatory arthropods are revealing what a difference a few centimeters can make.

Entomology Today September 29, 2022 Leave a Comment

Clues in the Clay: Decoy Insect Larvae Reveal Predator Presence in Turfgrass

Researchers at the University of Georgia are studying how clay models of caterpillars and other insect larvae can attract predator insects and arthropods in turfgrass and reveal their presence by the marks they leave behind. Their latest study fine-tunes the method by evaluating the colors, shapes, and sizes of the decoys that work best.