All right, first thing: map the insects’ typical activity times—most do their business in the first 30 minutes after sunrise when light is still low. Next, keep your equipment silent: use a small, battery‑powered recorder with a mic that only picks up footfalls, not your breathing. Walk slowly, use a flat, non‑reflective surface to avoid startling them with sudden flashes. Keep the area well lit from the side with a low‑intensity LED—so the insects don’t think you’re a predator. Finally, set a timer so you record for exactly 20 minutes and then stop; no lingering signals means no curiosity, no offense. Stick to the plan, don’t overthink the critters, and you’ll have clean data without a whole army of flies taking offense.