A device that permits the sampling of aquatic insects associated with
carcasses in water with minimal disturbance of the natural environment
is described. A field study conducted in early summer documented stri
ctly aquatic insects recovered from decaying pig carcasses in an Iowa
freshwater lake using this sampling method. Forty carcasses of newborn
pigs were placed in the devices and removed at two-day intervals to s
imulate a complete decomposition sequence. Twenty species of insects f
rom twelve families in five orders were documented, along with water m
ites (Arachnida:Acari) and amphipods (Crustacea:Amphipoda).