Field-deployed passive trap methodology determines quality of insect molecular data

Passive trapping is one of the most efficient, and sometimes only practical, methods of gathering data on insect populations and communities. Blue vane traps (BVTs), passive traps consisting of blue containers filled with water and a vane-shaped funnel, may be set for periods of hours to months, resulting in lethal capture of small invertebrates. Additives such as surfactants or preservatives are often added to BVTs to improve capture rates. Researchers often do not use specimens captured in BVTs for molecular ecology studies, possibly due to the perception that DNA is too degraded to be useful after multiple days in the trap. However, the rate of DNA degradation in the field, as well as the influence of additives on degradation, is not well known. We tested the tradeoff between time in the trap and DNA quality of collected specimens, as well as the influence of different trap additives on DNA quality. We exposed honey bees to trap conditions for time frames ranging from 1 day to 2 weeks and measured the DNA concentration and quality that could be extracted post-treatment. This experiment will improve understanding of passive trap conditions on DNA quality and may allow for the use of BVT captured specimens in molecular ecology studies.