Insects are interesting creatures – not everybody likes them, much less wish to be near them, but few can deny that they are, in a certain way, beautiful and stunning. Many people love catching insects as a hobby, whereas others catch insects out of necessity – usually to get rid of the bugs hiding in the corners of your room.
Whether you’re doing it for sport or for indoor hygiene, you’ll need something to catch your insects with ease. And that’s where insect nets come in – designed to catch critters without hurting them, these fine mesh butterfly nets are a great way to have fun outdoors.
Insect nets are a must-have for anybody who wants to catch little critters outdoors. Kids, in fact love catching flies with butterfly nets during summer days. Many insects have their own way of escaping, and it can be difficult for some people to catch insects without nets. Even if you have hand-eye coordination and reflexes, catching the insect with your hands can be dangerous for both you and the insect, which is why net bags are almost always the way to go. Here’s what you should look for when buying insect net bags.
An insect sweep net is a net that’s designed specifically to catch insects. Features of fine mesh nets include a light frame to facilitate fast reflexes, a long body for improved reach, and a thin yet durable aerial net to catch insects without injuring them. Depending on the type of insects and their habitats, there are aerial nets and aquatic nets. Aerial nets are commonly used to collect flying insects like bees, mayflies, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, true flies, and wasps. Aquatic nets, on the other hand, are mostly D-style nets that have heavy-duty net bags for collecting aquatic insects.
Here’s why you’ll definitely need an insect sweep net, which are also known as butterfly nets.
If your goal is to catch aerial insects, then you’ll definitely need aerial nets to catch them with. Catching insects with your bare hands can be very difficult and physically exhausting. And even if you somehow do manage to catch one barehanded, the chances of injuring you or it when you catch the insect is too high of a risk to take. Insect sweep nets like butterfly nets are designed for catching butterflies with delicate wings while keeping them safe and uninjured when you catch them.
Even if you may have the reflexes to catch bugs and the control to keep them safe without injury, there’s still one problem – what if you don’t like bugs? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people despise looking at, much less touching, many different types of bugs, such as cockroaches, spiders, and the like. Catching with your hands would probably be impossible for you even if you had the reflexes simply because of fear.
But fortunately, with an insect sweep net, you don’t have to worry about that. The aerial nets are large enough to allow you to catch pretty much any insect imaginable, and as long as you know how to use them, you can catch and release the bug outside without being inches near it. You can even opt for sweep nets that easily collect insects from grass, brush, or crops, in one sweep action.
Insect sweep nets aren’t just for insects, despite the name. Many insect sweep net bags boast tough enough materials that they can catch small fish and tadpoles by the lake without getting damaged. Not all fish can be caught in this manner, mind you, but many nets do have the durability to be able to should the occasion arise. Such type of nets are called aquatic nets that come with longer handles. It’s also worth noting that you can use the net to grab pretty much anything from a distance, so if you’re feeling a little lazy you can grab something with your net instead of moving to get it.
Just like insect sweep nets, garden netting can be used to keep pests away from the garden.
Here’s what you need to consider when getting an insect sweep net.
The size of the net is very important when deciding what net to buy, especially if you’re looking to catch insects somewhat seriously. Larger nets offer more catching space to work with, so accuracy wouldn’t be as much of a problem. However, they’re also much harder to catch bugs with due to their weight, so you’ll need to sacrifice speed for size.
In contrast, smaller butterfly nets are great if you’re confident in your accuracy. Over time, you may have picked up some tricks in catching butterflies, or maybe you developed the muscle memory to make catching easier. Either way, smaller butterfly nets would be a better choice for experienced catchers, though this also varies from person to person.
Net weight is also another important factor to consider. Butterfly nets can be light or heavy, depending on the materials used. Most insect sweep nets (and especially butterfly nets) are light and don’t injure the insect when caught. On the other hand, other nets can end up damaging the wings of your insect, which can be a problem. If you’re catching sensitive critters, lighter nets are recommended, and if you’re catching tougher insects such as beetles, then thicker nets should be okay.
Insect sweep nets are made to catch insects, and this activity involves a lot of fast movements and quick reflexes. Because of this, it is highly likely that you’ll hit the net on a hard surface nearby if you aren’t careful. This is especially true if you are new to using insect sweep nets, as they aren’t exactly the easiest to use. Let’s break down the types of material that you’re looking for in each part of the insect sweep net.
Let’s first talk about the net itself. The insect sweep net should have a fine mesh net that doesn’t affect your catching speed and offer no resistance. This means that the mesh should be light and have as little surface area as possible while also being small enough to keep insects inside. Secondly, it needs to be made out of strong material – you don’t want your net to break because of a simple snag on a branch.
When it comes to the frame of the net, you’ll want something that can take a few hits without getting damaged. Many insect net manufacturers already use a good choice of material – stainless steel. Not only does it not rust and lose durability when sitting in your attic, it’s also difficult to break, requiring you to really put in the effort to break it. You can even make the frame hollow and stainless steel won’t have trouble breaking. It will, however, bend.
Metals are known for being malleable, meaning that they can be bent and shaped in certain ways. Even if the stainless steel is difficult to break, it can definitely bend if the force applied to the frame is precise. All you need is a sharp rock or a ledge to bend that frame, rendering the net useless. While stainless steel is tough, it isn’t invincible, so be sure to exercise care when using them, lest you break them and are forced to buy new ones.
Insect nets are easy to make, and therefore very affordable. You can get an insect net for less than $5, and a set of nets for $20 or less, depending on the brand. There isn’t much variance in terms of quality regarding insect sweep nets, so you’re free to choose whatever strikes your fancy.
Check the video below if you want to build your own sweep net.
We choose our insect nets based on their size, shape, color, and brand history.
A popular choice on Amazon, this butterfly net boasts a ring that’s one foot in length, which gives you plenty of allowances when catching bugs. You don’t need to worry too much about accuracy and precision when you have such a large ring to work with. The net’s rod is extendable, meaning that both kids and adults can use it. It’s also ideal for travel because of this. The net is gentle and doesn’t hurt the insect, so you can catch butterflies and the like without damaging their wings. It’s a good standard net that’s great for outdoor catching.
This net is very similar to the previous one in a lot of ways. It’s got a similar frame and build, with 12 inches in diameter for a ring, giving you more than enough room to work with. It also helps that the handle is retractable for easy carriage. It’s also relatively light and can be carried by kids. The store page mentions that you can use the net to catch not only insects, but fish too, so if you’re feeling a little adventurous, this net’s got you covered as well.
This set of nets is similar to the previous one at first glance, but you’ll realize that they’re actually quite different from one another. Unlike the previous set, this set of nets is made to be used on insects, not fish. The colors are bright, which makes them interesting to kids. And, if you want to choose other, colors, there are multiple sets available for you to choose from. The rod does require a bit of installation to do, and it will need to be done by an adult, but once it’s set up, your kids are going to have a blast.
Need some nets for the whole family? This set of butterfly nets is perfect if you want to go out on a butterfly-catching trip with your family outdoors. The set contains six colorful nets with different colors, so your kids will definitely love them. With retractable rods, they can be carried by kids and adults alike, and are also very easy to store when not in use. Finally, the nets are durable enough to be used to catch fish, tadpoles, and the like, too, so you can always try that instead if there aren’t any butterflies around.
The sets before this were great for families, but what if six pieces were one piece too many? No worries, as this set comes with five nets instead of six, so you won’t have any wasted, unused nets with your purchase. The nets are a great way for children to practice their hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and so on through outdoor activities, so as long as there are bugs to catch, your kid will have a fun time doing so.
Need some fishing nets for your kids to have fun with? This set comes with two nets made ideally for catching small fish. It’s perfect for families who love visiting lakes and rivers. The nets are small and colorful, and your kids would love to own one. The net is relatively small, which makes it easy to carry, too. The nets are designed for fishing, so they may be a little too rough to catch an insect with, but it’s certainly possible. For the most part, however, this net is best used for fishing and only fishing.
Like the previous set, this set contains six different fishing nets. Each net has its own color, and all of them have adjustable lengths so that it’s always just long enough for the user. The material used for the frame is stainless steel, so it’s pretty tough to boot. Whether you’re catching insects or simply reaching out for objects, this net has you covered.
A: Thinner net meshes can break in certain conditions, but if used purely for catching insects, they shouldn’t break for quite a while.
A: Insect nets contain no small parts, so they should be safe around children, though be sure that they don’t attempt to eat or chew on the net when left unsupervised.
