Making an Aspirator Collector Worksheet

Making an Aspirator Collector

An aspirator is handy for catching tiny compost organisms. It's simple to make by reusing a clear plastic container, as you can see:

Remove the lid and cut two holes just big enough to fit the straw through.
Cut a flexible straw in two and insert the two parts into the two holes you cut.
Cut a small piece of nylon stocking or thin material and rubberband it to the bottom end of the straight straw, the part that will be inside the container.
Put the lid with the straws back on the container.
Aim the flexible part of the straw at the compost organism that you want to collect.
Inhale on the other part of the straw to vacuum up the organism into the container.

A glass jar, with holes punched in the lid using a large nail and hammer, works too. Be sure to remove the lid from the jar before punching holes.

Many variations are possible - design and build your own with reused materials that you find.

To get used to using your collector, vacuum up small items like bread crumbs and tiny bits of leaf and soil.