104 



BULLETIN 67, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



of the dead insects, and whenever numbers of examples are found to 

 be dead or dying, specimens should be collected and submitted 

 without delay to some specialist on this class of diseases. 



The specimens of work of insects should have the surplus parts 

 removed, and should be labeled and stored where they will be readily 

 accessible for future reference. Broad shallow drawers or trays are 

 convenient for the smaller wood and bark specimens, while wood or 

 heavy paper boxes serve for larger ones. Common florists' paper 

 boxes, which are shipped flat ready to be made up, are excellent for 

 storing the classified material. 



Every individual specimen, mounted set of alcoholic specimens, 

 specimens of work, etc., should bear the note number referring to it 

 in the notebook. 



Aquatic collecting. — By watching a certain 

 pond or stream for several years one will find 

 it full of insect life. The number of species 

 there associated together in their different 

 stages is remarkable. Doctor Needham has 

 devised a method of gathering these insects 

 from a limited area of the water. He erects 

 a tent of white muslin over a favorable spot 

 in the stream, and fastens the edges down 

 close to the water. A flap is left so that one 

 can enter each morning and gather the insects 

 that have issued during the night. Mr. 

 Roberts has shown that one may gather many 

 rare aquatic insects from a stream by stretch- 

 ing a net across it and disturbing the pebbles 

 and stones above the net. The loosened in- 

 sects will float down-stream against the net. 

 Most of the aquatic insects can be carried 

 home alive, wrapped in wet waterweeds. 

 Sometimes one can find insects transforming; 

 these may be collected and carried home in 

 paper bags, where, in a day or two, they will 

 attain full development. In this collecting 

 one should be careful to save the moulted 

 skins. By closely observing one particular 

 stream or pond one can often connect the insects with their larvae 

 without the necessity of rearing them. 



INSECT BOXES AND CABINETS. 



Insects should be kept in a tight, dry, and dark place; tight to 

 exclude insect pests; dry to prevent mold; and dark to preserve the 

 colors. Light will gradually fade the colors, so that if glass-top 



\a 



Fig. 1G3— o, A caddicefly, 

 Macronema zebratum; b, 

 a mayfly, ilexagenia bili- 

 neata; c,its larva. 





