THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XXL] OCTOBEE, 1888. [No. 305. 



COLLECTING DIPTERA. 

 By E. Bkunetti. 



To the true entomologist the study of the Diptera should 

 possess attractions not shared by that of the Lepidoptera nor 

 the Coleoptera, fron the very fact of the species being less 

 well known ; it consequently offers greater opportunities for 

 rendering real service to science. 



Specimens of Diptera should always be brought home alive, 

 if possible in pill- or chip -boxes, and killed by the fumes of 

 burning sulphur or strong ammonia. No method that wets them 

 should ever be adopted, as the pubescence once matted together, 

 frequently, if not always, prevents the identification of the species. 



For purposes of stud}', — so long as the legs are not allowed 

 to cluster together close under the body, and the wings are kept 

 from crossing so as to hide the venation and the upper side of the 

 abdomen, — Diptera are as useful unset as set, and by not setting 

 them a considerable amount of time is saved. Moreover, they 

 are not so liable to accident, and do not take up so much cabinet 

 space. I prefer the long Carlsbad pins, because the insects are 

 easier to handle when pinned with them, and because they allow 

 a higher magnifying power to be used when in the cabinet. 

 Again, they are more easily exchanged with continental corre- 

 spondents, wlio invariably use Carlsbad pins, and never set their 

 dipterous specimens. Should, however, collectors desire to set 

 them, let me advise them to keep the insect at least half to 

 three-quarters of an inch from the point of the pin, which should 



ENT0:M. — OCT., IHHS. Y 



