HOW TO KNOW THE INSECS 



eyen dropping out If it is held up by its tail; but these yarns 

 have given many folks an altogether unhealthy and unnecessary 

 dread of insects. Aside from some bees that sting, a few large 

 beetles and ants that m.ay pinch with their mandibles, and two or 

 three families of true bugs that sometimes pierce the skin with 

 their sucking tubes, there are none to fear or even handle with 

 caution. 



These comparatively fev/ troublesome species can be covered 

 with the bottle while inside the net or picked up with forceps 

 which some collectors carry. Lost collectors depend almost en- 

 tirely on the "forceps" nature has provided and pick out their 

 specimens with thumb and finger « A recent tv/elve weeks spent al- 

 m.ost entirely in the field during v/hich time several thousand in- 

 sects, a large percentage bees, were caught and killed, resulted 

 in the v.Tlter being "bitten" once by a back swimm.er and stung or 

 otherv/ise hurt by his captives not at all. The insects that are 

 best prepared to defend themselves seem more anxious to get away 

 YiYien caught than to fight. Even the much maligned spiders (which 

 by the way, are not insects) that turn up so often in the sweep- 

 ing net do not attem^pt to bite. The VLTiter for many years has 

 been putting them, out of his net more or less gently and has 

 still to receive his first spider bite. 



MORE THAN SIXTY PLACES TO LOOK FOR INSECTS 



V/herever one turns. Insect life is abundant. This list of 

 collecting suggestions is not exhaustive. The ingenious student 

 will find still other places and -ays to add to his collection. 

 He will get Into new regions and try new ways if he wishes to 

 get the largest number of species. Som.e good detective work 

 will locate many insect culprits. 



1. Look EVERYWHERE. Trained eyes can find some form of insect 

 life almost every.vhere. 



2. Look under STOLES ALD BOARDS . (Turn them back to their origi- 

 nal position when through, so they will be ready again.) This 

 form of collecting is particularly good in the spring and early 

 summer. 



3. Many beetles and other Insects may be found under loose BARK 

 on logs and stum.ps. Do not neglect the small insects. 



4. Tear up and carefully examine SHELF FUNGI AND liUSHROQLiS for 

 the insects that feed or hide in them. 



17 



