April, 1907.] Collecting and Preserving Thysanura. 119 
NOTES AND METHODS ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 
THYSANURA. 
Alma Drayer Jackson. 
In studying the Thysanura during the past two years many 
difficulties were encountered in regard to collecting and pre¬ 
serving specimens which could be used with any satisfaction a 
few months after they were mounted. A great deal of time and 
many specimens were lost before anything like satisfactory 
results were obtained. The Collembola are especially difficult 
to handle since their chitinous body walls are almost impervious 
to ordinarv fixing agents. If dried they shrink beyond recogni¬ 
tion and the same difficulty is met with in using numerous 
reagents. It is hoped that these methods and reagents which 
have been found satisfactory in studying the Thysanura may 
prove helpful in working with other insects whose bodies are of 
like texture, and whose habits are similar. 
In order to facilitate the study of these insects two methods 
of field collecting are employed; the specimens are either collected 
and brought to the laboratory alive, or are collected in some 
reagent which will keep them in as perfect and natural a state as 
possible. The latter method is very difficult, since reagents 
that will keep other insects, or even some species of the Collem¬ 
bola in perfect condition will shrink or distort other species to 
such an extent that they are useless. 
For most purposes it is more desirable to collect these small 
insects alive and bring them into the laboratory for fixing. 
Collecting in Capsules. —One of the most successftd 
methods for collecting alive I have found to be by the use of 
large size capsules. A small piece of lense paper was placed in 
each capsule to absorb moisture from the insect and give them 
something to crawl over. By being careful the larger end of the 
capsule may be placed over the insect, and if it does not choose 
to go into its new quarters immediately may be gently urged on 
by means of a small brush pushed under the edge of the capsule. 
It is best not to place more than two or three insects in one 
capsule as they require careful handling to keep them alive for 
any length of time. Air may be admitted to the capsule by 
puncturing one end by a fine pin point. It is important that 
the insects be kept alive since the antennae and body begin to 
shrink almost immediately after death. 
Collecting in Large Mouthed Bottles. —For this method 
of collecting one should be provided with several large mouthed 
bottles and a good sized funnel. The funnel is placed in the 
neck of the bottle and pieces of decaying wood, bark, etc., on 
which the insects are hiding are gently tapped or pounded 
