I did some research on retinoids and found a document from the US that links methoprene to defects in frogs and decline in their numbers. (A nasty "trap" for tadpoles). The link is http://www.tcet.unt.edu/tegs/chapter2/Case%20of%20the%20Malformed%20Frogs%20BLM.doc. I have not yet been able to track down any case studies where a small village could take action against various parties for using/recommending certain insecticides when research on the subject commonly finds that there may be a Significant Risk of Harm using methoprene, warranting the employment of alternative methods to reduce mosquito populations. 

Hello, I went back to Bunings on the weekend and the "pellets" were still on the shelf. Sold as "insecticide", the little black pellets contain methoprone. I found a report that studies the effects of "M" which tested it on mice and rabbits BUT no tests done on frogs or birds. Can anyone tell me if "M" could potentially hinder the growth of tadpoles to adulthood? OR "Can Methoprone be confidently recommended by ecological consultants in the battle to select against fleas, ticks and mosquitoes WITHOUT affecting the reproductory organs of frogs, their eggs or their development into tadpoles? For discussion, I can be reached on 1300799950. 

I was in Bunnings last weekend and I asked about a product that was on their shelves. It said: "place these pelltes into pools of water OR BIRDBATHS that contain mosquito larvae and it will stop them from developing into adults". I asked if the pellets would harm tadpoles or birds? "Not sure", she said.

It's unbelievable what is being sold out there. No wonder it's getting harder to kill the mozzies. What chance do the tadpoles have?  

Unless you live well west of the Great Divide - do NOT buy those Opera-shaped yabbie traps. I impulsively bought 4 at BCF to give the kids something to do ie catch yabbies in the dam and creek. Googling to find out some info on the best way to catch yabbies, to my horror I found these traps are banned from use on the coast. They are very good yabbie traps, but also very good drowners of platypus and Water Rats, as well as injuring native fish. Tad annoying that these are sold in coastal shops.

I recently received an email from Marion Anstis (author of Tadpoles of South-eastern Australia) confirming that she uses yabbie traps to catch tadpoles.

These sound a bit like the plastic cylindrical trap I use for trapping live bait (mullet), baited with bread. I've never thought of using these to survey for tadpoles! I will test it in the dam and nearby creek for interest, and report the findings.

I havent looked at the website, but perhaps the mesh yabby traps could also work? At the worst, you may at least catch some lunch (LOL).

Both kinds of traps are readily available at tackle shops and big dept stores. Beware tho, that techically as these are fish traps, you need a fishing license, and also to meet the legal specifications for a fish trap. If bycatching macroinvertebrates, you may also be crossing into the realm of a scientific license from DPI (Fisheries).

They are traps made of fine mesh (e.g. flywire or plastic mesh) and are usually marketed as minnow traps. They're conical in shape with open ends for tadpoles to swim into. The entrances taper into a narrow funnel internally at each end of of the trap, so that tadpoles that swim into the trap have difficulty getting back out again. Baits that are commonly used to attract tadpoles include bright glow sticks, dry fish food or yabbie food. Each trap is detachable in the centre for easy retrieval of trapped tadpoles. On the few occasions that I've used them over the last few months, they have been quite successful in trapping tadpoles, if placed in appropriate locations in wetlands.

Yes, I'm sure that these types of traps can be made easily, but they are relatively cheap to buy. I purchased some minnow traps from the Nylon Net Co. in the U.S. earlier this year and you can view several designs on its website. However, given it is a U.S. company, the freight charges to Australia were just as much as the cost of the traps. So I was just wondering if there were any for sale in Australia. I've tried a few fishing supply shops in Sydney without success.

OK. I will bite. What is a tadpole trap?

Is it like a fish trap? Perhaps you could make one.

I am intrigued.

Does anyone know where you can buy commercially available tadpole traps in Australia?

I bought some traps from the U.S. earlier this year, but the freight charge was more than the actual cost of the traps. I need more, but don't want to pay high overseas freight charges.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.