BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



[42] 



the extremely quick fliglit of these insects, the removing of Hymen- 

 optera from the net is not always an easy task, and in many cases rare 

 specimens escape. One method of avoiding the danger of being stung 

 is to have the collecting net constructed with an opening at the bottom 

 which, during the sweeping, is tied with a string. When a sufficient 

 quantity of insects is obtained they are, by a few quick motions, driven 



to the bottom of the 

 net, and the net is 

 then seized just above 

 the insects with the 

 hand, the folds of 

 cloth preventing the 

 insects from getting 

 to the hand, so that 

 there is little danger 

 of being stung. The 

 lower end is then care- 

 fully untied and in- 

 serted into a wide- 

 mouthed bottle, and 

 the contents of the net shaken out into the bottle. After the catch is 

 stupefied the vial may be turned out and the undesirable material dis- 

 carded. A second method consists in the use of an ordinary sweeping- 

 net of light material. A quantity of Hymenoptera are collected from 

 flowers and driven to the bottom of the net, and secured as in the pre- 

 ceding method. The portion of the net containing the insects is then, 

 by means of a pair of forcej)S, thrust bodily into a large collecting bot- 

 tle. After a few minutes the insects are stupefied and may be readily 

 examined. 



Tig. 62.- 



-The Little Eed Ant (Monomorimn pharaonis). a, female; 

 &, worker enlarged. 



COLLECTING COLEOPTEEA. 



General Directions. — Owing to their hard outer skeleton, Cole- 

 optera can be collected, handled, and j)reserved with greater safety and 

 with less trouble than most other orders of insects. From this fact, and 

 from their very great diversity in form, Ooleoptera have, next to the 

 Lepidoptera, always been favorites. As a consequence, there are now 

 more species described in this than in any other order, and in the large 

 museums they are much better represented than other insects. This 

 rich material has been studied by numerous and competent specialists, 

 and the classification of Coleoptera is at present more advanced and 

 more accessible than that of the other orders. This fact gives stimulus 

 to neophytes, and thougn the literature of our Xorth American fauna 

 is much scattered and we are still in want of comprehensive works 

 (with the exception of the general " Classification " by Drs. LeCoute 

 and Horn), yet, except in a few hitherto neglected families and smaller 

 groups, the species are fairly well worked up. 



