On this page you can download  two plans that can help you make wooden insect cages, practical equipment for all entomologists.

Did you ever wanted to have a pet, but you simply don’t have the time for a cat or a dog? Well, you could try to build insect cage, fill it with some beautiful insects and learn they habits, watch them eat, sleep, breed, etc. It will bring a piece of wild nature into your home.

 

Insect cage plans
Project type
Project difficulty
Medium
Skill level
for DIY enthusiasts
for intermediate experienced woodworker
Level of workshop equipment
Hobby – Hand tools, power tools and machines
Applied woodworking joints
Fasteners
Hardware
Mortise and tenon joint
Corner bridle joint
Mitered mortise and tenon joint
Dimensions

 

Insect cage: D 385mm (15.16'') x W 290mm (11.42'') x H 450mm (17.72'') - This kind of cage is suitable for the Phasmidas (the stick insects), praying mantis, caterpillars (before they turn into the butterflies) and for all the other slow insects.

Small insect cage: D 170mm (6.7'') x W 170mm (6.7'') x H 205mm (8.07'') - This kind of cage is suitable for the caterpillars (before they turn into the butterflies), some other larvae and for all the other slow insects.

 

Insect cage (insectarium = vivarium for insects) is designed for insect care and breeding. It can be installed at your home, but in schools and laboratory also, as an educational kit. During its manufacture you should pay attention to the edges (for example between the door and the cage structure). They should be firmly overlapping. Before the insect settling, you should cover the bottom of cage with some kind of paper, so you could easily clean its interior. On the side walls and the top of the cage you should mount a fine net (for example the mosquito net, the net used by beekeepers for the face protection, or even the pieces of curtain). This net should be so fine, that even the smallest insect can’t get through it. This is very important, not only to prevent your insects getting out of the cage, but also to keep out the spiders or unwanted insects like wasps or other parasites and predators from getting into the cage that could cause disease or death of your insects. If you breed the kind of insects that require high air humidity, then you should put the glass on cage sides instead of the net.

 

Insect cage plan
Insect cage - Sub-assembly list
Insect cage - Assembly drawing
Insect cage - Cage parts list
Insect cage - Door parts list
Small Insect cage plan
Small Insect cage - Sub-assembly list
Small Insect cage - Assembly drawing
Small Insect cage - Cage parts list
Small Insect cage - Door parts list

 

These cages are not suitable for the fast insects, or very small ones, because the whole side of one wall has the door function, so they could easily escape. The dimensions of cage vary, depending on which kind of insects you want to breed. For example, if you breed the stick insects you should consider the fact they attach themselves onto the “ceiling” during their shedding period. Because of this, the cage height should be at least triple the size of the adult length (body + front legs). Out of the same reason, it is better to mount the top with the net – not the glass – so the insects can hook themselves easily before the shedding period starts.

IMPORTANT: You can not use any insecticides in the room, where the insect cage is, because that action will cause the death of your pet insects too. If you have a problem with some insects like flies or mosquitoes, we are recommending you to use various insect glue traps and boards, or to take out the insect cage, spray the room, and take the insect cage on its place tomorrow.

In some countries, the mosquitoes extermination is doing by aircrafts. So, if you are familiar, that these kind of action is going to be in your area, it is necessary to keep the windows where the insect cage is closed at least one day after that.

 

Download project in PDF file format
Download project (high resolution images)

Submitted by Ceh Jan