

CHAPTER IV 

 COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS 



THE young collector has probably provided himself or herself 

 with some insect pins and some sheet cork, which can be pur- 

 chased for a small sum from retail dealers, though he can substitute 

 slices of cork stoppers for his sheet cork, or pith from corn stalks, 

 or corrugated paste-board packing, at no expense whatever, gluing 

 the same to the bottom of a cigar box. Good insect pins of various 

 sizes he can hardly get along without if he purposes to pin his 

 specimens. The late spring and summer months naturally offer 

 the best opportunities for collecting. 



When he goes into the field he should take a good insect net, 

 one or two cyanide bottles, a few vials for holding delicate insects 

 (some vials half full of alcohol for killing larvae), and some paper 

 pill boxes, or tin salve boxes. These and the vials will hold living 

 larvae, which the collector may desire to take home. A pair of 



FIG. 31. Small forceps. 



forceps (Fig. 31) is not necessary, but sometimes very convenient 

 in handling very small insects and those that sting. A box (cigar 

 box will do) and some envelopes or folded papers are desirable to 

 safely hold butterflies with wings folded until the return home. 



A cyanide bottle (Fig. 32) is made by placing two or three 

 small pieces of cyanide of potassium,* pieces to be a little bigger 

 than peas, or one large piece, in the bottom of a large-mouthed 

 vial, and covering the same with plaster of Paris, to which water 

 has first been added. This mixture should be of such consistency 

 that it will just pour into the bottle, covering the cyanide half an 

 inch. Leave the bottle open for a few hours until the plaster is 

 set. If liquid gathers on the top of the plaster, dust in more dry 

 plaster, and later a piece of blotting paper can be placed over the 

 plaster to absorb moisture, and occasionally removed. As cyanide 

 of potash is deadly poison, it is well to put the word "POISON" 

 on the bottle. A tight cork should be provided, and care should 



*Or sodium cyanide, if easier to obtain. 



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