WE AKE constantly at war with insects. Year after year insects are 

 responsible for enormous losses in terms of disease and destruc- 

 tion of food, clothing, and other materials of value to man. In order 

 to combat insects successfully we must know them well ; we must know 

 where they live, what they feed upon, and how they develop. 



The habits of one kind of insect may be very different from those 

 of another very similar in appearance. For this reason we cannot gen- 

 eralize, but must obtain definite information about each species. The 

 better we know our insect enemies, the better are our chances of antici- 

 pating attacks and of preparing and conducting our defenses against 

 them. 



We have to be ever on the alert for new pests and new outbreaks of 

 old pests, and to do this we must be able to distinguish between insects 

 that are injurious or potentially injurious and those that are beneficial 

 or of no consequence to human welfare. Increasing knowledge of the 

 damage done by insects, and especially recent discoveries concerning 

 the role they play in the transmission of animal and plant diseases, 

 emphasize anew the necessity for correctly identifying these pests. 

 Otherwise we dissipate our efforts and misuse our ammunition, so to 

 speak, in the destruction of beneficial or unimportant insects. 



Because the correct identification of insects is seldom easy, it is im- 

 portant that specimens be preserved in as good condition as possible. 

 The identification of a particular species of insect usually requires 

 examination of minute details of its anatomy with the aid of a lens 

 or a microscope. If these details are concealed or missing because of 

 improper handling and preservation, then it is impossible to identify 

 the specimens, and previously existing information about the habits, 

 economic importance, and control of the species cannot be found and 

 utilized. 



This bulletin has been prepared to fill the needs of farmers and 

 other persons and groups interested in the study and control of insects. 

 It is also intended for use in meeting the numerous requests received 

 from those who desire information on methods of collecting and pre- 

 serving insects. Furthermore, it should be helpful to agencies engaged 

 in conducting insect surveys as a basis for pest control. 



It will give needed guidance in the collection of different kinds of 

 insects and in the preservation of such material in a manner that will 

 permit definite identification. The instructions given are necessarily 

 brief. Additional information may be obtained by writing to the 

 Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington 25, D. C. 



