HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS 



which the ring is attached. The most difficult part seems to be 

 in fastening the net ring rigidly to the handle. 



Figure 7 shows a method fre- 

 quently employed for a home made 

 ;]ot),and makes a servicable handle. 

 The ring should be made of steel 

 wire which will spring back into 

 shape when used roughly. The metal 

 ferrule is slipped up over the end 

 of the handle to hold the ring in 

 place or may be pushed back to re- 

 lease the ring in changing bags. 

 If one does not have a ferrule of 

 proper size the handle may be 

 wrapped with wire or with tape. 



A still better net handle can 

 be made at small expense by a 

 blacksmith or repair man. An open 

 ring t":elve to fifteen inches in 

 diameter is made of No. 10 or 12 

 spring steel ¥/lre. On each end of 

 the wire a round loop is formed to 

 fit a 1/4" X 1 1/2" stove bolt. 

 The bolt is inserted into one of 

 the loops and welded fast. A 

 light wood handle has a closed 

 end metal ferrule which is drilled 

 and threaded to receive the bolt, 

 firmly attached at one end. After 

 the bag is put on the ring the 

 bolt is put through the second loop and tightly twisted into the 

 handle. This makes a net handle that has been found to take 

 severe abuse yet one on which bags may be quickly changed. Either 

 of the handles (ring and stick) just described work well for any 

 form of net. Since som.e of the other details vary, suggestions 

 are made for each type. 



Sweeping or Beating Net 



This net has the most general use and gathers in more insects 

 than either of the others. The method of use is to beat or sweep 

 grass, weeds, shrubs, branches of trees, with a quick vigorous 

 motion, giving the net a half turn on the back stroke so that the 

 vegetation always passes across the face of the open bag. Many 

 insects feeding or hiding on the plants are thus shaken into the 

 bag where they will be found amid broken pieces of the plants. 

 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 

 and into its center thus effectively locking the insects in, and 

 preventing their escape. To remove the insects the net may be 

 laid on the ground or in the collector's lap and a little at a 

 time pulled under the ring, thus opening it to view. Many of the 

 insects, anxious to get out of their prison, will fly at the 

 first opportunity and are likely to escape. Others "play possum" 

 or hide among the pieces of plants and may be more readily taken. 

 The careful collector will be attentive not to miss the small 

 specimens. Chloroform or ether may be poured on the net to 



Figure 7. A simple method for mak- 

 ing a net handle, (a, ring, 12 to 15 

 inches in diameter. The straight 

 ends of the wire are inserted in the 

 grooves in stick c, A metal cylinder 

 b, or wrapping of wire, d, holds the 

 ring rigidly in place.) 



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