A harp trap is a device used to capture

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most ...

s without exposing them to disentangling from traps like

mist net Mist nets are used by hunters and poachers, but also by ornithologists and chiropterologists to capture wild birds and bats for banding or other research projects. Mist nets are typically made of nylon or polyester mesh suspended between two ...

s and

hand net A hand net, also called a scoop net, is a fishing net or meshed basket held open on a rigid hoop, which may or may not be mounted to the end of a handle. A hand net with a long handle is often called a dip net. When it is used by an angler to ...

s. It capitalizes on bats' flight characteristic of turning perpendicular to the ground to pass between obstacles, in this case the trap's strings, in which flight attitude they cannot maintain their angle of flight and drop unharmed into a collection chamber.V. C. Ashton. 2004.
Design and Use of a Harp Trap for Assessment of Resident Microchiropteran Species and Associated Ectoparasites at Stinking Hole, Dominica
" Texas A&M University Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center Study Abroad Program in Dominica, Study Abroad 2004. Invented in 1958 by

US Public Health Service The United States Public Health Service (USPHS or PHS) is a collection of agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services concerned with public health, containing nine out of the department's twelve operating divisions. The Assistant S ...

veterinarian A veterinarian (vet), also known as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary physician, is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, vet ...

Denny Constantine,D. G. Constantine. 1958. "An automatic bat-collecting device." ''Journal of Wildlife Management'' 22(1):17–22. . . the harp trap has been modified for different applications and efficiencies by users, including

Merlin Tuttle Merlin Devere Tuttle (born August 26, 1941) is an American ecologist, conservationist, writer and wildlife photographer who has specialized in bat ecology, behavior, and conservation. He is credited with protecting the Austin Congress Avenue Br ...

's double harp trap in 1974,M. D. Tuttle. 1974. "An improved trap for bats." ''Journal of Mammalogy'' 55(2): 475–477. . Charles Francis' 4-frame harp trap in 1989,Charles M. Francis. 1989. "A Comparison of Mist Nets and Two Designs of Harp Traps for Capturing Bats." ''Journal of Mammalogy'' 70(4): 865–870. . and other modifications improving collapsibility and portability.C. R. Tidemann & D. P. Woodside. 1978. "A collapsible bat-trap and a comparison of results obtained with the trap and with mist-nets." ''Australian Wildlife Research'' 5:355–362. . The harp trap is a significant tool for measuring aspects of bat ecology,N. Berry, W. O'Connor, M. W. Holderied, and G. Jones. 2004.
Detection and Avoidance of Harp Traps by Echolocating Bats
" ''Acta Chiropterologica'' 6(2): 335–346, accessed 19 Jun 2012. .A. M. Duffy, L. F. Lumsden, C. R. Caddle, R. R. Chick & G. R. Newell. 2000. "The efficacy of Anabat ultrasonic detectors and harp traps for surveying microchiropterans in south-eastern Australia." ''Acta Chiropterologica'' 2: 127–144. most notably to obtain information about bat populations and movement for

public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...

D. G. Constantine & B. Villa R. 1962.
Métodos de lucha contra los vampiros transmisores de la rabia
. ''Boletín de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana'' 53(1):7–12, 1962.D. G. Constantine. 1969. " ris.paho.org/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/12704/v67n1p39.pdf Trampa Portátil Para Vampiros Usada en Programas de Campaña Antirrabica" ''Boletín de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana'' 67: 39–42. and conservation managementC. L. Hourigan, C. P. Catterall, D. Jones, and M. Rhodes. 2008. "A comparison of the effectiveness of bat detectors and harp traps for surveying bats in an urban landscape." ''Wildlife Research'' 35: 768–774. . purposes. Even though visually apparent when set out in the open, harp traps are effective if placed where natural features funnel bats toward the trap.S. Churchill. 1998. ''Australian bats'' Sydney, Australia: Reed New Holland. They can be set across flyways in heavily wooded areas, over small bodies of water, and at roost entrances, and can be left unattended for periods of time, allowing multiple sites to be worked simultaneously. They can be more efficient for surveying bats than mist nets, capturing higher numbers of species and individuals.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harp trap Nets (devices) Environmental Sampling Equipment