ROSS: HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE INSECTS 19 



desirable to send these to an entomologist for identification and 

 suggestions for control measures. When sending such specimens, 

 observe these precautions. 



1. Do not send insects in an envelope with a letter. Speci- 

 mens are often crushed or broken beyond recognition if sent 

 through the mail in this fashion and are of no use for identifica- 

 tion. 



2. Instead, send them in a box, ranging from a sturdy pill 

 box to a shoe box, the size depending on the specimen, fig. 9. 



3. Always send full data with specimens, including what 

 they were feeding on when collected, where they were collected, 

 and any other pertinent information. 



4. If convenient, send the specimens alive. In this case, be 

 sure to mark the package "live insects." 



5. Use a wood or cardboard box for shipping live insects. 

 A glass container will "sweat," and the insects will rot and mold. 



6. In sending insects dead, (a) if they are dry, be sure to 

 pack them in the container with enough cotton to keep them 

 snugly in position but not so much as to crush them; (b) if they 

 are in fluid, pack the container to prevent breakage. 



7. Do not try to preserve insects in water. Use one of the 

 regular preservatives, such as formaldehyde or grain alcohol 

 (ethyl), preferably grain alcohol. 



HOW TO HANDLE UNMOUNTED SPECIMENS 



Temporary Cases 



If it is not convenient to mount the specimens when they are 

 taken from the killing bottle, the moths and butterflies should 

 be put in "papers" and other insects in cotton. 



"Papers" are simply rectangular strips of paper of conven- 

 ient size folded as in fig. 10. The moth or butterfly, with its wings 

 folded, is placed in a "paper," the edges of which are then crimped 

 over to lock it shut. 



For insects other than moths and butterflies, pill boxes or 

 small flat tins containing cellucotton make good temporary hous- 

 ing. A layer of cellucotton is laid in the bottom, a layer of insects 

 placed on it, and another layer of cotton placed over the insects. 

 The lid should fit fairly snugly over all. Cigar boxes and other 

 boxes of like size also may be used in the same way. 



Great care must be taken that sufficient cotton is put in the 



