60 



BULLETIN 67, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Fig. 106— A 



NEEDLE FOR 

 SPREADING 

 INSECTS. 



Some use pieces of heavy glass instead of paper strips to hold the 

 wings in place, but these are apt to slip and rub the wings. Fre- 

 quently it is possible to fill the board with spread specimens, and 

 then put two long strips of paper over the entire lot, pinning them 

 down between the insects. Some entomologists have 

 advocated the spreading of certain insects in an inverted 

 position. Those which have the origin of the wings as 

 high as the top of the thorax, as dragonflies, sawflies, 

 etc., may be advantageously spread in this fashion. A 

 long strip of cork or soft wood is fastened upon two or 

 more low braces. Small holes are made here and there 

 along the middle. The head of the pin is pushed through 

 the hole till the back of the insect rests upon the cork or 

 wood. The wings are then spread and fastened from 

 beneath. By this method the legs are less liable to be- 

 come broken than by the usual fashion. 



All Lepidoptera should be spread, although with a 

 series of one species it is well to have one or two speci- 

 mens with the wings in the natural resting position. 

 Nearly all the Neuroptera, the stoneflies, the dragon- 

 flies, the caddiceflies, the Cicadas, many Fulgorids, most 

 of the Orthoptera, and sawflies, should be spread before 

 they are suitable for study or the cabinet. Most other 

 insects are not spread, and for purposes of study are better so, 

 since the spread wings are often in the way when one examines 

 them by a hand lens. For a museum collection many of the flies 

 and Hymenoptera look better if spread. With beetles and Het- 

 eroptera it would be well if 

 one or two specimens of each 

 species could be spread, since 

 it is impossible to see the 

 venation of the hind wings of 

 these forms when mounted in 

 the usual way, and specialists 

 in these groups know little 

 about these important struc- 

 tures. With many beetles it 

 is not easy to spread the 

 elytra out horizontally, but 

 if they are raised and slightly divergent the under wings may be 

 brought out and spread so that all parts may be examined with 

 a lens. Frequently with Orthoptera and some other insects the 

 wings of one side only are spread. This saves space in the cabinet 

 and also shows how the insect holds its wings when at rest. It does 

 not, however, look so well with Lepidoptera. 



107. — Spreading pins: a, For large insects; b, 



FOR MICROLEPIDOPTERA. 



