The Bug Box

Overview

The Bug Box is a subsampling tray used to process benthic macroinvertebrate samples. A field sample usually holds far more organisms than anyone can realistically count, so a representative portion has to be subsampled. The box divides the sample across a 10×10 grid of 100 equal cells, letting the technician select cells at random until a target count (commonly 100 or 300 organisms) is reached.

Choosing cells randomly rather than by eye is what makes the subsample statistically representative — and what makes the resulting community metrics defensible in regulatory and client review. The Bug Box follows the modified Marchant (1989) design adopted as the preferred subsampling method under OBBN and CABIN.

Where the Bug Box differs from the legacy Marchant box: the watertight lid doubles as a petri dish for sorting and picking, so a working surface is built into the kit. Everything else meets the same spec — which keeps your data directly comparable — and it lists publicly at about half the price.