The minimum equipment necessary to collect insects consists

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IB ARRANGEN{DN'I OF TIIE COLLECTION are u:uallv pre5er\ed in fluiJ"ince ll-cJ Sh-i\el when prP-r'rveJ drv. Tl-e'lrc.t p_esprvaliv, i. a 7( 80 per' '11 'olullon ol ethl/l aiiohol. Al,oh"l i- a killirrg aSe l for mosl ir'eclj trut IS un aLIs i""i"ru i"t killing larvae-- it may distort or discolor them' ilr*.l .ir"ula t'" iiitled bv hot rvatei or chemicals A good killing .ofuii"n ,o' larvae i. on, ionrairine I Parl of kero'' ne 7 I0 parls of a5 ppr( er I r't l'yl a lcoh.l (lc* for \ rr y-soll-bo' 1leo la r\ ael' I, Da,rrs of ela'ial a,,ric acid, and I ldrl ol druxanc lsl'irrop)l ar'onol ,iuifli" rt.on,,t) trill -erve jl ethllalcohol j' not available' t"^ill..i- of .pe, in'en. 1'rc.i'ed in alcohol 'hould be com- "r"i"iu r.rr.a rtirh al,,_,hol onrl r.ghrll .roppered to reduce.or preverl ;var\olalior' ll a largt nun"b' r o[ 5pe(]n cns ar| kl led In a slnall amnul t ol c'eonol, thi' alcohul 'l_oul'l b' 'eplacc4 aller a day nr l\\o. RuLLer :topper. drc bclle- thai curk on'c l1'l_ oJi.uiiy itip..t containeri'of specimcns in fluicl and replace any evaporated fluid. Arrangement and Care of the Collection Labelina. \ll :nc,imen 'hould I'e Ll'elpd silh al l'd't Ih' bfii;:;:l Jat" oi tn.ir,aptu'e 'peciner' rvithutt'ur h labels are of-l.llle \xlue. T\P ramP or lle 'olleclor alrd ln ome 'a_cs i.i"..u1ior ot tt't" ttabitat or foocl ol the specimen are also-helpful' For oinncd insccts put this inlormation on onc or tlvo small pleces ;an;;.: "' rh, pin Lelou rh' in tct: ior sp",i"lcn 'nourrled,on slirles Our ir on a Jid, labcl, rnd on a l;'1e ol lapr'f ' n p! rcrl or walerlloor ink r 1,lac, d in'iJP l re col Ial1'rInr.fe'lmr'n5Pr'cerv(''l in ' fluid. f-"f,"f. prr n",1 -1'cimen."hould b' on rairll 'riFI sIr:te,paper "" no larle- thj' aLuLIl rr x r, ir' lor 5mallerl 'i1 a unllornl.nr'lgnr on lhe pi'1 lacnic\ed \illl a pirrin* bto' k) al.Ll l'lrrlleL wll.h lne in.p' I or t,uinrJ. Locr'il' l3b l' nla) b' handnrlll'' or prlnreo' P'in ,d hl,cl" carr bc ohrairr, Ll r-om a 5upl,ly rr^u ' or cul lrom a ol-orosraDh ol a :h,cl ol t\'P' slill'rr lJbel" | \e Lucalll) glv'n itr""fa'i",li.r," tl'e raplure a'' lo'ely a' po-.ih1' "itc -theruunty rnrv be.L,fiL;er.l in bur iI tlr' rout ly lr larqe ll't lne "omc.r_,'. i"ti- oifr"t sile. Place thesc labcls ou the pins ir the same way "r Corubhr. Cdiuhb.! Sheets of localitv labels. actuai size, \\ith localit]' alone (A) or locarity and colictor (Bj, d space for $ritiDs in "iit: l*;l ""n ARRANGEM-ENT OF TI-IE COLLECTION r9 throughout the collection - whether they are read from the right or left is a matter of De$onal Dreference. An insect collection should-contain some identification labels. How these are best arraneed will deoend on the size of the collection and the extent to whiah it is ideniifed. Most collections should be labeied at least to order and {amiiv. and the soecimens so aranged that a sing'e label can se.ve I'or all t\r specinens in a group. When specimens are labeled to species, an identiication label is placed on each specimen or on the first in a group. This label is a plain piece of paper (about an inch square and at the base oI the pin) containing thc scientific name oI the insect, the name of the person identifying it, and the date (month and year) the identihcation \r'as made. Bores for Pinned Insects. Pinned insects are kept in bores having a soft material in the bottom to pcrmit casy pinning; they can be obtained from a supply house or be homemade. f'he most common supply house type is a Schmitt box, a wooden box about 9 x 12 x 211 in. \\.ith a tight-litting lid and the bottom lined with sheet cork or similar material. Such boxes cost from a few to several dollars. Similar boxcs made ol heavv cardboard are available from suoolr hou,e, anJ cr,,r on. hcll io orc rhicrl as mu, h. Homcmade bo*6s -ay be made of rvood or heavy cardboard, and the bottom lined rvith sheet cork, balsa wood, Styrofoam, or corrugatcd cardboard. The material in the bottom should 1it tightly, and if corrugated cardboard is used it should be soft enough to take an insect pin. Large collections ma1' be housed in Schmitt boxcs, or in cabinets contairing trays or drarvers constructed like Schmitt boxes, Riker Mounts. A Riker mount is a glass-topped box containing cotton, with jnsccts on the cotton just under the glass. Insects spread lor mounting jn a Riker mount are spread in the upsidedown position descrihed on p. 15. Riker mounts may be of various sizes, and also can be purchased from a supply house or he hom"- A8 The Riker mount. A, a cornpleted mount; B, sectional view showing a specimcn in placc under thc glass.
ARRANGEMENT OF TI]E COLLECTION ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION 2I madc. Homemade boxes can be made from a cardboard box, a p'"r, o[ gla.s cut to fit jn'i,le lhe lid. and bin'ling lepe, The box should -Cuioui Le abuut 3n in(h deep;cLl deep'r b^xcs down lo tnls dr'prn' a t"ctio" of the lid, ieaving ibout a %-in. margin around lhe edr... Co\ering tl-e lirl rirh tape uill improve il5 alpeararce' Fa"ten the gla.. in.ide thc lid riLh slril" ot lane placed so tFal ther do nol .how lrom the oul_idP TI you sarl lo hang up tne 'nount pur 2 bracc h:le_PF ul lhc bollum and reirfor" thcm iit-ia. *itt lapr, thPn tie 3'LIirc or 'tin Lelw"n lhem on the out.i,lc. Bplo;e pulling 3 lhi(l. bodied in'ect inl'r a Rikrr mount' ie;se tbe collon lo rnalc a .n all leprc.'ior for the bodl Fa-ten the lid oD the mount Nith Dins or tapc Sp, ci.nen: i' Riker mouit ar" er.il) di pla) ed. Inrl ll e mount' can take.on.i,leralrle har,Jling sithoul Jan'iltgP to thr sl-'eclmens A rep.llrnl can bc plared under Ihc collL," 1o Drotecl thl speclmcns from oe-l-. Rilier noun{"h3\. 2 disaJv,rnlr!'': olrly I 5ldeol tne sn.cirer can be .ner rrrd mal ) nollrs "ill hrle ailer lrolonged exDosurc 'cl^"" to liqht. Mo,riitr. Class mounts are similar to Riker mounts, but l,ave glass on both top arld bottom and contain no cotto[; both or,rl, sl,Pcimen\:J "1J". rre vi'iL'le Thrv gene'ally cortairr unly on, or r lerv_sp,cimen:, ard can be n a'1" in \ariouc \\aJi Ihe iollo.r irr; p'ocedure i" n lat:vcly si-nple: L Spi.a'l 'p,cim"n irr an u1,'i'le durvn po''L'^r' lnd ir't' n leg: close to the body. 2. Cur 2 iJciri.al piece- 'f r'lr.s ior tol ar.l bottom of th' mount, allor'inu a mrrg;1 o al lPd"l ', in o' all I sldes ol tlle specimcn(s). '1. Cut .nouAh suppor l inc !la:5 to proviJe room for bodv,of {hc in.e(1. lhc-e pier,- ril] be a: lor J 3i I dlmcn5lon lu:uaily lne shorter) of top and bottom pieces, and a rvidth that will leave a lobel ^ zuppo*ing gLo* tpecimen glcs A glass mount. A, the finished mount; B, sectional view. space iD center oI the mount 2 or 3 times as rvidc as body of the rnsect. 4. CLan l\e gla.j lhorouehly. preferaLly rrirh a glas. clcaner; use a Drush to r, movp ltnl lrum the clxss_ 5. Fn:ren t r. pieces ol .uppo :nq cla-. lo bo om p:c(c wirh a sma)l drop o'(cinel r,5u(h a" Du,o lou.'l.o.d cenrertl or each oulside corner: prr.s each supporl:ng piec, in o posirior, in line with rhe edg'. o[ l.'ullom glas.: r"m"". a-1 e:rce.. c, rnerrl. Allorv trme lor (cmcnl .r or , pip.e to -cl before rlre "ert pi,.cc is rdJed. . 6. ll'hen the suppo'ti rg c.h.s j- irr po"irinrr. L, aci on lbe supportins pi..es and crnter ir. Pu' a srnrll ,lrnl' ot "p.cim.n cen,.nl on lbe 4 uuler cofn, r., lhen Dul otr lrrp top !la.-, beirrg care'ul nor jo mole lh, specim(n. Pre-. rhi: gla.. J,,,rvn hrrd ard put a .mall weight on it; leave the weight iri place until cement seis (an hour or more). .7. Tape edges of the mount with slide binding or electric tape; this covr-r: an1 sher1, edge. oi rhe gla-s, and giv.s rhe rrouni a frnishcd look. fl e lah, I i" placeo r"-.ho,r n. Ulass Inuullls a-e irexpr nsivc. rajv to md.re. and rhr-y provide a safe and attractive method for-storige and display. If ipecimens put into these mounts are heat dried or otherwise made pest-ftee belore mounting, they shoulcl remain pest free. Trvo or more specinens can Le put irr a silgle nount by plncing one above rhe olbcr. or side i.') jidp r$irh I groups oi sul,porr.r,g'glas.7. l\e use ot slandard rvill "ize- :impl:ry glJS. cuttinq and mourr slorage. Plastic Mounts. Pls.tii noLrirls mav concj:l ol 2 "hecr. of thick plasli'- !rillr I\e jn.,cl n.unl.d l,er*.en rh.rn, or a ph-ric Lrlotk in which the insect is embedded. Ii 2 sheets arc used. each is bulged out nhere rh. in.ect s L"dy wiLl be, lhc 2 :hcel" are put together with the insect bctrveen them. and sealed around thc edee with acclone ur lJpe. jlmb(ddinJr ar insrcl in a hlock of pla.tic tsa rathcr involvrd proce5s. Lur the Snal producl i- an attractire, dr.rrable, and perrnan' nt -noun1. Srtppl) hous'. offer mat.rial. loi ttris type ot mounling i-d i'l5lruclion) ior rh, ir use. Ptotection of a Collection from Pests. Insect collections are subject to attack by dermestid beetles and other pests, which v'ill ruin tle collection if il is nol pfol,.ted. lnsecr boxr. can be pro tecled with a repellenl such as naphlhrlcne llakes or paraJichlorobenzene {napthalene llakes la,l longer). The.qpqllqnl i- a Lox oi pinned in'eCts can be put in a sn a-ll pillbox or ri rappe,l in a piece of.clotlr firmly allacheJ to a , orner ol rh, bor. Therepelleriina I(rter mounl is placed under lhe .olton. Collrcrion- be examined periodiially lor "hould signs of damage, ard iI pe"t. ar, delectcd the colleciion shouid be I-umigaled or heat tr;atcJ. lL is not possible topur repelienl in a glais lnounl, )o lale car. to mz,kp sure tbat specimens are Desl free $ hen Dul in lhe5e mounts. , Eandling Specimins. Insecls are very britth.when dry. Careless handting ol a pinned specimen can resuh in the lo-i of legs,
Page 1 and 2: Collecting and Preserving [nsects C
Page 3 and 4: COLLLCTINC I'qUTP]II,NT Por:.-iun ,
Page 5 and 6: T2 MOUNTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS
Page 7: Steps in spreading a butterfly. r6
Page 11 and 12: FIDLI) OBSERVATIONS arrl n ill errg
Page 13: THE PROJECTION OF LIVING INSECTS in

The minimum equipment necessary to collect insects consists

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