MISC. PUB. 601, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Cyanide in 

 cellucotton 



?' 



} Disks of blotting paper 



► Cyanide in cellucotton 



A B 



Figure 2. — Killing bottles : A, Large, wide-mouth cyanide bottle for large insects ; 

 B, vial-type cyanide bottle for small insects ; C, screw-cap top for large cyanide 

 bottle, showing a convenient arrangement to prevent the escape of active 

 specimens. 



Cyanide is a deadly poison and should be handled with great care. All 

 bottles should be conspicuously labeled "POISON" and should be kept 

 away from people who do not realize the deadliness of the chemical. The 

 bottom of a cyanide bottle should be taped so that if the bottle is broken 

 the cyanide will not be scattered about. 



Ethyl acetate. — To make a killing bottle in which to use ethyl acetate 

 (acetic ether), pour a half inch or more of plaster of paris into the 

 bottom of a suitable jar or vial, allow it to set, and dry it thoroughly 

 in an oven. After the plaster of paris is completely dry, saturate it 

 with ethyl acetate, pouring off any excess fluid. The killing bottle 

 is then ready for use and will last for months if kept tightly corked. 

 When it becomes ineffective it can be dried in the oven and recharged. 

 Insects may be preserved in such bottles for an indefinite time without 

 becoming brittle, provided they receive an occasional moistening with 

 ethyl acetate. Ethyl acetate is relatively easy to obtain, and the kill- 

 ing bottles have the obvious advantage of being comparatively safe 

 to use. 



