Field Equipment

1. Net: You will need an insect net for your surveys. Ideally, you'll want a net that is made of a thick yet semi-transparent mesh, sometimes referred to as an aerial insect net, not an opaque canvas net.  There are many options, and we've found Home Science Tool's net to be high quality at an affordable price. Net suppliers: Forestry Suppliers, Gemplers, Carolina Biological Supply, Atelier Jean Paquet, ​Home Science Tools
2. Vials: Almost any vial will work for bumble bee surveys and you can likely repurpose some household recyclables as vials. Typically we have distributed 30-50 mL centrifuge tubes at our in-person training events, though 5 dram vials also work well. You can find options at craft stores, or via online sources. You will likely need at least 10 vials, but 25 is probably about the right amount. The screw top vials are nice as they seem to be more watertight. 
3. Ice Chest: A 7-16 quart cooler works best for surveys, but size is ultimately up to you. Consider how far you need to haul your ice chest when surveying—a backpack cooler might be better for surveys requiring a long walk, meanwhile if you will be near the car the whole time you can leave a large 72+ quart cooler in the trunk while surveying.
4. Ice: Crushed ice works best for chilling bumble bees in the field. You can use blue ice or ice packs at the bottom of your cooler to help keep the crushed ice from melting, but do not place bumble bees directly against these ice packs. Some of the newer ice packs are too cold for bumble bees and may cause mortality.
5. Clipboard: It is helpful to have a firm writing surface during surveys. Sometimes ice chest lids will work, or a hardback field guide. Clipboards can often be found at second-hand stores for cheap if you do not want to purchase new.
6. Writing Utensil: We recommend pencils when filling in your data sheet. If for some reason your data sheet gets wet, pen ink will be washed away or smeared. A wise surveyor would figure out a way to keep track of their pencil in the field, like tying a string between the pencil and the clipboard.

Vials from left to right: 50 mL centrifuge, 30 mL centrifuge, 30 mL, 4 dram.