32 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS 



Figure 52 shows the Comstock insect bottle, used by many ento- 

 mologists for the permanent storing of insect larvae, pupae, etc. 



Inflating and Mounting Caterpillars. Frequently one wishes 

 to preserve a caterpillar in the dry state for mounting by the side 

 of the imago. Kill the specimen in the cyanide bottle; make a 

 small slit with a fine pair of scissors at the extreme posterior end 



NO. f 



SUB. t 



FIG. 48. Insect mounted on glass slide, with labels. 



of the caterpillar. A better way, perhaps, is to insert the point of 

 a pin about one-eighth of an inch into the anal opening at the 

 posterior end of the caterpillar, and move it carefully around in 

 order to cut through the intestinal wall, thus freeing it from its 

 attachment to the body wall. 



Place the larva on blotting paper, and, placing a round pencil 



FIG. 49. Watchmaker's glass useful in 

 entomological work. 



FIG. 50. Coddington hand lens. 



upon it just back of the head, roll it backward gently, pressing out 

 the viscera. Care must be taken to move the caterpillar about 

 during this in order to keep the hairs dry. 



Then insert a straw or a glass tube drawn nearly to a point, 

 about one-fifth of an inch, into the opening. If a straw is used, 

 push a fine pin through the specimen close to the posterior end and 

 through the straw. This will hold it in place while inflating. If 



