The Suction Trap Network (STN) was initially established in Illinois by Dr. David Voegtlin, emeritus INHS, in 2001. In 2005, the STN expanded to multiple states across the US Midwest such as Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Most of suction trap locations were placed on university research farms and few in private farms (See partners list).

The STN generates insects’ data: aphids, insects pest of mainly corn and soybean and predators, and other invasive species. However, we are open to collaborate with other researchers interested on other insect taxa.

Currently, the STN has 28 suction traps in operation located across the US Midwest. The suction traps are about 5.8 m high (Figure 1) and capture winged-insects through the suction of air through the standing pipe into a bottle filled with propylene glycol (Figure 2). Propylene glycol is used because it preserves the insects and it is not considered a hazardous liquid for shipping. The fan operates from 7 am to 8 pm from the third week of May through the third week of October. The samples are collected and mailed weekly to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.