COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF INSECTS H 



Three standard types of tweezers are illustrated in figure 4, A, Z?, 

 and C. Tweezers of the straight-pointed type are ideal for bending 

 the tips of card points on which to mount small specimens and will 

 be useful for many other purposes. However, some workers prefer 

 the curved tips for handling specimens. The tweezers shown in figure 

 4, O, are best for handling dead butterflies, as the tips will not break 

 through the wings so readily as will the points of the tweezers shown 

 in A and B. Figure 4, Z>, illustrates a pair of tweezers that may be 

 made from two pieces of flexible steel spring. These are ideal for 

 handling living or dead specimens with very soft bodies. 



A few small camel's-hair brushes, sizes to 2, are handy for picking 

 up small insects that might be crushed if handled with tweezers. 

 Moisten the tip of the brush on the tongue or in the liquid preserva- 

 tive, touch the specimen with the brush, and you can transfer it safely 

 to the collecting vial. If brushes are not available, the moistened 

 end of an ordinary flat toothpick is a satisfactory substitute. 



Figure 4, E, illustrates a type of dental forceps that is recommended 

 as a pinning forceps. The curved tips permit the pin to be grasped 

 below the pin labels, and thus even very slender pins can be set firmly 

 into cork without bending. 



REARING 



Whenever possible, the collector should avail himself of the oppor- 

 tunity to rear insects, for by so doing he may secure many insects 

 otherwise obtained only rarely. In addition, the specimens will fre- 

 quently be in much better condition than collected material, and there 

 is an opportunity to make valuable observations on the biology of the 

 species reared. If abundant material is available for rearing, it is 

 always advisable to preserve a few specimens of each of the various 

 stages according to instructions given later in this bulletin, so that 

 the complete life history of the species will be represented. If only 

 a few specimens are being reared, the shed skins of the specimens 

 should be preserved, as these are of value also. 



To rear specimens successfully the natural conditions under which 

 the immature insects were found should be simulated as closely as 

 possible in the rearing cages. Insects that feed on living plants may 

 be caged over potted plants or fed frequently with fresh material 

 from their host plant. With a little ingenuity a suitable cage can 

 be prepared; the important thing is to have it tight enough to keep 

 the insects in and yet provide for sufficient ventilation so that the 

 container will not "sweat." Some loose, slightly moist soil and ground 

 litter should be provided in case the insect is one that pupates in or 

 on the ground. Insects that feed on decaying animal matter should 

 also have the cage provided with slightly moist soil or sand. 



Insects that infest seeds and those that cause plant galls may be 

 reared merely by enclosing the seeds or galls in a tight container. 

 Such material should not be permitted to become too dry; neither 

 should it be kept moist, else the material and the specimens will mold. 

 It is a good plan to insert the open end of a glass vial through a hole 

 in the container; then, if the container is dark, when the specimens 



