HOW TO MAKE AN INSECT COLLECTION - BOOK - SCIENCE

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How To Make an

Insect Collection

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Fig.

1.

A

scientific

collection of insects.

Note: This booklet is designed to replace Directions for Collecting and Preserving Insects by Dr. A. li. Klots which is now out of print. The current publication is a co-operative affair The written by members of Ward's own staff. preliminary work was done by Mr. Richard L. Post before he left Ward's to resume his graduate It is intended studies at Oregon State College. primarily to give instruction in entomological technique and methods to the less experienced colWe do not desire to be dogmatic in our lector. presentation and our readers are urged to remember these are suggested methods only since each individual will develop his own special variations and technique as he becomes more experienced.

injured and destroyed our crops, infected us and our domestic animals with fatal diseases and even attacked our homes, extraordinary measures would be taken to

ward

insects

Yet this is what these attacks. to us, often without our realizing the extent of their depredations. It is true that the harm done by some insects is somewhat offset by the good other
off

do

Why
a
hostile

Collect Insects?
race of

men attacked this If country every year, doing damage to nullify the labor of a million workers, if they

insects do in supplying man with products he can use, by pollenizing flowers and by helping to keep in check man's insect foes, but this is not sufficient to over-balance the harm done. About 75% of all known living species of animals are insects, in fact about 650,000 different species have been In view of the size and imdescribed. portance of this group and the incalculable

Fig. 2.

Equipment needed

for collecting insects.

losses incurred from its depredations, it would seem imperative to know as much

need not be expensive, in fact, it costs surprisingly little to do really creditable work.
Essential Items.
essential items

about them. The first step in would be to form a collection, at the same time attempting to learn as much as possible about the immature
as possible
this direction

The

following are the

you will need:

1. Collecting net light in weight but of strong, durable construction with a bag of good quality,

stages

and the

insects themselves.
all is

lock-stitch
2.

netting.

A
well,

job worth doing at

worth doing

Killing jar with cyanide, properly
efficiency

made

for

a scientific collection of insects cannot be obtained unless certain fundahave mental methods are followed. prepared these instructions so that any per-

and

maximum
size
3.
is

16-ounce probably best for most types of specimens.
safety.

and

The

We

son without previous experience can start
this

Insect pins of double japanned steel wire with especially sharp points and heads that will not come off. Sizes 1, 2 and 3 are most widely

used.
4. A spreading board with adjustable groove can be used with a wide variety of specimens. Spreading boards should be carefully constructed to work with ease and a minimum of difficulty. 5.

most fascinating and instructive of

oc-

cupations.

Supplies and Equipment

Needed

Insect

storage

boxes constructed

to

be

as

One cannot take pictures without film and camera nor can he collect and prepare insects without a few necessary items of equipment (Fig. 2). These can be homemade but the average person will find it more satisfactory to purchase them. They

air tight

quate
6.

as possible will give adeprotection for a carefully made insect col-

and pest-proof

lection.

A permanent
be

may

conveniently

collecting bag is essary collecting data.

note book of a size that in the pocket or essential for the noting of necfield

carried

7.

A

camel's hair brush will be found useful

when handling minute specimens.
8. A few small jars and vials containing 75% alcohol are necessary for preserving many types of insects. glazed 9. A supply of folded paper triangles, paper or cellophane envelopes should be carried to use when collecting butterflies or large speci-

mens
10.

that will later be pinned.

well made forceps with slender points a length of 4" or 5" will be very useful for handling some of the specimens you will collect.

A

and

few additional items Accessory Items. are desirable if really serious work is to be done or when the beginner is collecting several orders of insects.
1.

A

Two

extra cyanide killing jars.

A

small

4-

ounce jar for small delicate insects and a large quart jar to be used exclusively for butterflies

Fig. 3.

and moths.
2.

Parts of an insect net. A. The assembled net. B. The handle. C. The ferrule. D. The ring. E. The bag.

An unbreakable

celluloid killing tube with

cork.

Sweeping or Beating net. box with layers of cellucotton for 4. Metal storing insects until they can be relaxed and mounted.
3.

Where

to

Look

for Insects

Insects can be found almost "everywhere," in fact it is hard to find a place where they cannot be collected. The be-

Flowers, herbs, and boughs should be swept with a sidewise motion, giving the net a half turn on the back stroke so that the vegetation always passes across the face of the open bag (See Fig 4). This will get more insects than an upward or downward sweep and at the same time will do less damage to the plant. If care is taken the same patch" of flowers or plants may be
visited several times. Do not chase insects

ginning collector will not see as many insects as one who is more advanced, but as he progresses he will be able to find them

will

on the wing as they become alarmed and not return. If a flower visiting kind is disturbed and flies
away, wait patiently with net ready for a few minutes and it will likely return. Sweeping can be done with the ordinary aerial net but it is better to use a more sturdily constructed one having a scrim bag with a canvas top. A very useful net for sweeping is shown in Fig. 5.

some stage of their development at all times almost everywhere. He will see them in the grasses of fields and meadows; in woods, under leaves and in the soil of the forest floor; in flowers, in rotten wood, under bark; beneath stones or boards, in slow and swift streams or in lakes and ponds and at lights. Insect hunting is one sport from which the collector always returns Definite instructions as to with game. where to collect insects are futile and we can only say "seek and ye shall find."
in

The Sweeping
insects
as

Net.

Sweeping
,

is

by far

the most productive
far as

method of collecting numbers are concerned.
(in
is

By sweeping the net over vegetation
sweeping the net

Land
The
tial

Collecting

Aerial Insect Net. The most essenitem of insect collecting equipment is the net. An aerial net should be designed
to give the maximum strength, rigidity and durability without sacrificing the light weight so important to the collector. The necessary parts of an insect net (a) are the handle (b), a ferrule (c) for attaching (d) the hook or ring, and a bag (e) hung from the ring. See Fig. 3.

used like a broom), especially when the latter is in flower or fruit, one can secure many specimens that can be obtained in no other way. When sweeping, only a few strokes should be made before emptying the net as otherwise many specimens will be damaged by shaking them about with the debris. When one stops swinging the net the end of the bag containing the mass of debris should be swung over the outside of the ring (See Fig. 11a), effectively locking the insects in and preventing their escape.