98 



BULLETIN 67, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



the pond, transforming to the adult. If these are taken and kept alive 

 for a day, they will attain their full coloration. Each specimen 

 should have a hog bristle inserted into it from the head through to 

 near tip of abdomen to keep the specimen straight and to prevent 

 the loss of abdomen and head. Straight pieces of broom from a whisk 

 broom may be used for the larger forms. 



Many other Neuroptera, as caddiceflies, stonenies, and mayflies, 

 are attracted to lights placed near ponds and streams. During the 

 day these insects often rest under the leaves of shrubbery near the 



water. The Psocidae are most common on 

 the trunks of trees or on fences in summer 

 and early fall. By searching carefully over 

 the bark of oak, tulip, chestnut, maple, and 

 other trees one will nearly always find a few 

 of them. One should have a supply of 

 small, empty vials, placing one over each 

 specimen. The Psocid may be made to fly 

 into the vial by tickling it with a bit of grass 

 or a toothpick pushed under the edge of the 

 vial. From the vial they may be shaken into 

 a small cyanide bottle in which are crumpled strips of soft paper. 

 They should be pinned with micro-pins as soon as possible after death. 

 The mayflies are so fragile that many are better preserved in alcohol. 

 When one finds the subimago of these insects, it may be kept in a 

 wooden box until it molts to the adult. It is useful to save one or 

 two subimagoes of each species, since these have a characteristic 

 appearance. Caddiceflies (fig. 163, a) can be obtained by sweeping 

 the foliage of bushes and trees near streams and ponds. All of the 

 Neuropteroids can be collected and shipped 

 in envelopes just as Lepidoptera. 



Mr. Bignell preserved the colors of dragon- 

 flies as follows: 



Fig. 153.— A Maxtispa, with side 



VIEW BENEATH. ( FROM PACK- 

 ARD. 



Fig. 154.— A Panokpa, or scor- 

 pioitfly. (From Packard.) 



Directly after death, clean out the contents of the 

 thorax and abdomen. To do this, obtain a long darning 

 needle, thread it with a short piece of fine cotton, tie 

 the ends together so as to form a loop; sling into this 

 loop one or more strands of cotton or silk, according to 

 the size of the insect. For the largest, four strands may be used. This would 

 give eight threads in the thorax and abdomen, taking care to select the cotton or 

 silk of the predominant color of the fly. Then pass the needle into the fly, directly 

 under the head, through the thorax and abdomen, pulling the cotton or whatever is 

 used through the body until it comes out quite clean. Then slide the abdomen up a 

 little, cut off the end of the material used, pull the abdomen down to cover it, then cut 

 off close under the head, leaving the remainder in the body. The fly will then be 

 ready for setting. 



Some have used artificial heat to preserve the coloring of dragon- 

 flies. 



