HOW TO KNOW THE INSEQS 



flour sack and open both ends. Put a draw string In each end. 

 Firmly attach the lower end to the neck of a large mouthed 

 bottle. Suspend a sieve receptacle In the center of the sack. 

 Put a small quantity of water In the bottle, fill the sieve con- 

 tainer with material containing Insects, close the top draw 

 string and hang the collector In a dry place. As the debris 

 dries out the Insects will leave it and travel dov/n In search of 

 moisture. I.^any Insects prefer a dark place. If the bottle has 

 an opaque covering it will be more efficient for such insects. 

 Others seek the light to escape from confinement and a clear 

 bottle will work better in that case. 



Beating Umbrel la 



This is a strong umbrella covered with heavy cloth. (White 

 seems to be the best color. ) The handle is Jointed so that it 

 may be bent to stand parallel with the open face of the umbrella. 

 The open umbrella is held under bushes and low limbs of trees 

 while they are beaten vigorously with a club. Many insects feed- 

 ing or hiding on the plants are shaken into the umbrella, from 

 v/hich they may be readily picked. The beating cloth, made about 

 a yard square, with tie strings at each corner which are tied to 

 sticks run diagonally, with the end of one stick projecting for 

 a handle, serves the same purpose as the umbrella. 



Some Helpful Suggestions 



TT/^ matter what means a collector uses to catch Insect 

 specimens, every precaution should be taken to keep 

 them in the most perfect and life-like condition. Too 

 much stress cannot be given to neatness and accuracy. 

 A specimen in such condition that it cannot be posl- 

 _ tively identified Is worthless. The beginner would 

 s^^*^*^ do well to set a high standard for the specimens he 

 admits to his collection and to discard all broken, 

 distorted or discolored ones. If there is uncertainty as to lo- 

 cality or date for a specimen it should likewise be rejected. A 

 neatly arranged collection of Insects carefully mounted and in 

 good condition is a beautiful thing, of which the ovmer may v:ell 

 be proud. Such a collection has .good scientific value and the 

 maker learns m.any valuable things in working at it. Somie sugges- 

 tions that should aid in keeping a collection at a high standard 

 are given. 



Killing bottles should be half or more filled v/ith loosely 

 folded bits of soft paper. These keep insects from damaging each 

 other through their movements before they are dead and help keep 

 the bottles dry. A quick way to m.ake these paper bits is to roll 

 a piece of neY/spaper into a cylinder about an inch in diameter. 

 Then m.ash the cylinder out flat and crease both edges. With 

 scissors, split a part of it midway between the two edges and be- 

 ginning at the split end cut off strips about 1/4 to 1/3 inch 

 wide at right angles to the length of the strip. The results 

 will be many little folded bits of paper which when shaken free 

 from each other make an ideal filling for the killing bottles. 

 When the catch is emptied out of the bottles, these folded papers, 

 if damp, should be destroyed and fresh ones substituted. These 

 used papers may contain poison. It is well to be careful what is 

 done with them. (See Fig. 6). 



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