Drying Spread Specimens. Many an en- 

 tomologist has experienced the visits of 

 ants or mice to his spreading boards when 

 they were full of specimens. It is there- 

 fore desirable to make some sort of a cab- 

 inet or a box with at least two sides of 

 wire netting and with shelves on which the 



Fig. 23. Expanding and pinning Lepidoptera. 



spreading boards can rest. If the box can 

 be placed near a radiator or furnace quick- 

 er drying will be assured. 



Occasionally mites, silver fish, book lice, 

 and other small pests gain entrance to the 

 cabinet and when this happens it must be 

 thoroughly cleaned and fumigated with 

 kerosene or sodium fluoride. 



Length of Drying Time. Fresh speci- 

 mens that are pinned or expanded usually 

 take from three days to a week depending 

 upon the size of the specimen. Relaxed 

 specimens are usually dried within two 

 days, except for large Saturniids which 

 should be left on the board four days. 



The specimens are taken off the boards 

 by carefully removing the glasses, pins and 

 strips. The pinned specimens are then 

 ready to be labelled. 



Labeling the Specimen 



Dr. Lutz of the American Museum of 

 Natural History has the following to say 



