ROSS: HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE INSECTS 



23 



1. Bees, wasps, flies. — Pin through thorax between bases of 

 front wings slightly to right of middle line, as shown in fig. 116. 



Fig. 12. — Pinning. Moths, a, and butterflies, b, are pinned through the 

 center of the thorax (instead of to the right of the median line) between 

 the bases of the front wings. 



2. Stink bugs. — Pin just to right of middle line of the 

 scutellum or large triangle between the bases of the front wings, 

 fig. lie. 



3. Grasshoppers. — Pin through back part of prothorax 

 (the saddle behind the head) just to right of middle line, fig. lid. 



4. Beetles. — Pin near front margin of right wing cover 

 near middle line, fig. lie. 



5. Moths, butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies. — Pin through 

 the center of the thorax between the bases of the front wings, 

 fig. 12. 



The insect should be run about three-quarters of the distance 

 up the pin, but not so close to the top that no room is left for 

 easy handling of the pin with the fingers. It is well to have all 

 insects the same distance from the top of the pin. To insure a 

 uniform distance, the collector should use a pinning block. This 



Fig. 13.— Pinning block. The 

 block is 1 y 4 x 1 % x 2 ',4 inches, with 

 holes drilled to the depths shown 

 and having diameters only slightly 

 greater than the largest pin that 

 will be used. A specimen is pinned 

 and the pin inserted into one of the 

 holes until it touches bottom; thus 

 the insects of any class, or in any 

 case, may be pinned uniformly at 

 the desired height. 



