Collecting Insects Is For Everyone

To collect insects and prominently mount and display them is not only fun but educational.

Once you have a fair sized collection you can show off your insects collection to friends and family alike!

How to Collect Insects:

Insects tend to feed on the leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruit of many species of plants, therefore producing directly visible damage. Examine plants closely and look for holes in leaves near the ends of branches. Turn leaves over to see for sure, especially if you spot any leaf discoloration or unusual patterns. Furthermore, check for ant activity since they often tend to aphids or scale insects whose honeydew they love. Look for holes in stems as this is evidence of boring insect activity and insect feces. Plants damaged by soil insects or stem-borers may wilt in the heat of day and recover a little in the evening when the sun goes down. Pull out damaged plants and closely examine root systems for signs of insect attack.

The best insect collecting is often in unique and diverse habitats. A vegetable or flower garden or landscaped facility such as a park or zoo will usually have multiple varieties of various types of plants. However, make sure that you have permission to collect first since it is illegal to collect in a federally sponsored facility or national park without a collecting permit. Always be careful not to damage plants when collecting. You should not cause more damage to the plants than the pests themselves. Be reasonable and don’t hack off side branches, limbs of trees or entire shrubs or flowers unless they are already dead or dying. When collecting insects, don’t forget to dig deep into soil. Most plants have a characteristic group of “specialist” insects which feed on them. Other insects may be more general feeders and will attack a large group of plants. Chop into a dying tree or rotting log to discover more interesting specimens.


Insect Collecting Equipment:

The general types of equipment necessary for collecting is net, one or more storage boxes, pins, pinning blocks, spreading boards, light and pitfall traps, killing jars, killing and preserving chemicals, several vials of varying sizes, plastic bags and various containers. A small collecting bag made of canvas or other strong material is helpful to carry equipment, plant cuttings and insects when out in the field.


The Killing Jar:

Insects must be killed before pinning and mounting. Killing jars are used to kill collected insects as quickly as possible, using a liquid fumigant or killing agent such as ethyl acetate, or more commonly known as nail polish remover, that produces a toxic atmosphere so the insect cannot breath.

When placed into a killing jar, insects often close their spiracles, but eventually they must open them. This process may take a few minutes for smaller insects or up to a half hour or more for larger specimens. Because large, hard-bodied insects such as beetles die slowly and may damage other insects placed in the same killing jar, you may need more than one jar.

It is possible to make adequate killing jars with almost any store bought jar that have been used for jams or jellies and even baby food jars are especially handy. Do not use plastic containers, because the chemical killing agent may damage them. At least one large, about a pint or quart size, jar would be helpful to contain larger specimens.

In the bottom of each jar, place about 1 inch of absorbent material, such as cotton, shredded newspaper or sawdust. With paper-or fiber-filled jars, cut a cardboard circle just slightly larger than the inside diameter of the jar and push it into the opening against the bottom. Wrap the outside bottom third of each jar with masking tape to prevent cuts in case the jar is broken. Attach a warning label to each jar and store the jars out of reach of children until you are ready to start collecting.


The killing jar is now ready to be filled with a killing agent. Pour about a tablespoon of ethyl acetate into the killing jar to thoroughly wet the dry, absorbent material. Pour off any excess into the original container. Do not use too much or you may soak and damage the insects that you collect. Tighten the lid to prevent loss of fumes. As the killing jar is used, it will lose its effectiveness so the killing agent must be replenished from time to time. Tear up some strips of paper, crumple them slightly and place them in each jar. This will help to prevent insects from damaging one another.

Pinching the thorax of large butterflies or moths before placing them in the killing jar will prevent them from flopping around and damaging the wings. Squeeze them for 20-30 seconds between your thumb and index finger and then put them into the killing jar. This procedure stuns the insects so they do not flutter once inside the jar. Remove butterflies and moths from the killing jar as soon as possible so that their wings do not become soaked with the killing agent.


If a killing jar is not available, freezing is another method to immobilize and kill insects. Basically place your specimens in a plastic bag or small jar and then put them into the freezer for about an hour or so. Do not handle them again until they are thawed or the delicate legs and antennae may break off. Insects left too long in the freezer will become dry and stiff, even after they are thawed. If pinned when dry, these insects will break during handling and wings and it will be impossible to spread. Remember that specimen quality is an important consideration in grading insect collections.


Using the Relaxing Jar:

While insects should be pinned on the same day that they were collected, this is sometimes not always possible. Therefore, before pinning specimens left in the killing jar or freezer too long, to restore their flexibility, it is necessary to relax them a little bit by placing them in a relaxing jar at high humidity for a few days so they can restore their flexibility long enough to allow pinning without damaging them

Relaxing is always a risky process and, if carelessly done, the specimens may be ruined.

A relaxing jar is easy to make. Simply use another food or larger jar as the relaxer. Place some absorbent material such as newspaper, sand or cotton in the bottom and cut a blotting paper disk to fit tightly inside. Moisten the material with water and add about a drop of ethyl acetate, phenol, Lysol or laundry beach to prevent mold. You then place the insects on the paper, close the jar tightly and let it sit for approximately 2-3 days. Afterwards, check to see if the insects are flexible and then mount them immediately. If the specimens are still too stiff, keep them in the relaxer for a few more days, but keep a close eye on them. Insects will mold and decompose if held in the relaxer too long.


A Collecting Net:

Aerial nets used for collecting flying insects can easily be ordered or made at home from a 4 foot length of doweling, about 4 feet of heavy wire and a half yard of sheer nylon. Grooves are cut across one end of the handle, then a half inch deep hole is bored on one side of the handle about three inches from the end. A second hole is bored a half inch deep in the opposite groove four inches from the end. A four foot length of heavy wire is bent into a hoop and attached to the handle by a 4 inch aluminum slip collar which will hold the wire hoop firmly in place.

The bag, once hemmed and attached to the hoop, is about one foot in diameter, two to three feet long and tapered to a point. The bag is slipped onto the wire hoop before it is attached to the handle. A denim band is usually sewn over the hoop end of the bag to make the net last longer. Sweeping or beating nets are made like aerial nets but the net bag is constructed of strong muslin material instead of the lighter netting. These heavy duty nets are used to collect insects from grass, trees and shrubs by swinging the net through heavy foliage. The sweeping net is widely used to sample insect populations in standing field crops and as the surveyor walks through the crop, the net is swung in an arc several times.


Other Types of Collecting Equipment:

Aspirator ~ The aspirator is a suction device for collecting small insects which are difficult or dangerous to capture with your bare fingers or even with an insect net. It is made up of a large glass or plastic vial, a length of flexible rubber tubing, some rigid plastic or metal tubing and a rubber stopper with 2 holes cut in it to receive the tubing. A small piece of cheesecloth or fine metal screen serves to seal the suction tube on the inside so that insects are not sucked into the mouth. Be warned that if you are a collector of ants, you may not suck the ants through the fine mesh since their defensive secretion will you much pain and suffering in your mouth.

To make an aspirator, bend the 2 lengths of tubing and fit the tubes into a rubber stopper. The long tube should extend down to within about an inch of the bottom of the vial when it is in the correct position. Attach the small piece of cheesecloth or metal screen to the short piece of tubing with solder, glue or a rubber band. This will prevent you from sucking several bugs or debris into your mouth when you are using the aspirator. You can now attach the rubber tube to the short piece of rigid tubing.

To use the device, just place the long tube beside a small insect, place the rubber tube into your mouth and inhale sharply. With some practice you will find that this is an excellent way to collect smaller insects easily.

Light traps ~ Many types of insects are attracted to light and can be captured afterwards by hand. A light trap offers the advantage that it will continue to trap specimens without being constantly monitored by the collector. Insects are very sensitive to different types of light. Therefore, more of a certain type of insect can be captured with ultraviolet light as opposed to the regular white light used in most standard light bulbs. The difference in attractiveness of the two types of light is due to the wave lengths produced by the 2 kinds of bulbs. Black light consists mainly of the shorter wave lengths, which are more attractive to night-flying moths, flies and beetles while white light bulbs, which produce longer wave lengths, attract some moths and other insects. Simply turning your home porch lights on or standing under a street light or flipping on your car headlights often produces many specimens, including many horticultural pest insects. Many of the night-flying moths can be captured when feeding on various flowers during evening hours.


All that is needed to make a simple light trap is a battery-operated lantern or an automobile emergency light with a 100 watt or larger bulb, a large metal funnel and a wide mouth jar or a large tin can. Hang the light outdoors away from the buildings, in a sheltered place, near a power source, if needed and no more than 4 feet off the ground. Construct a wire framework to support the lantern or suspended bulb, funnel and trap can. Make sure that the end of the collecting funnel is large enough to allow larger insects to pass through. Place some crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the can and lightly wet it with killing solution. Start the trap at dusk and empty it the following morning. A simpler trap setup is to prop up a white sheet to serve as a reflecting surface, then sit a lantern in front of it on a chair or stool. Collect all the insects attracted to the sheet as they land on the surface. Black lights are made in the same form as regular fluorescent tube lights and can be operated in similar types of fixtures. Do not look directly at the blacklight bulb, because ultraviolet light can damage eyes. Night-flying insects seem to be more often attracted to light traps placed in sheltered areas than those in more open areas.

Pitfall trap ~ A pitfall trap will catch many ground beetles and other insects that live on or in the soil. It consists of a trap can that is buried in the soil, level with the rim so that insects attracted to it will fall in. Once inside, it is very difficult for them to get out. An attractive bait in the bottom will increase the drawing power of the trap. Use pieces of spoiled fruit, vegetables, excrement or meat. Cover the trap with a board placed on small stones so insects can crawl under it and into the can. This arrangement will protect the trap from wind and rain but at the same time allow access to the insects you want to catch. It will also help to contain insects inside the trap once they are caught. Make sure you remove the insects that you catch every morning.


PRESERVING INSECTS:



Hard-Bodied Insects:

Since insects have a hard shell or exoskeleton and all of the soft parts are on the inside, they tend to keep rather well after drying even for long periods of time. Only a small amount of maintenance is necessary to keep them in good condition. Many specimens in museums today are over one hundred years old and look just as they did on the day they were collected. Certain types of insects may fade, but others hold their colors indefinitely. If you want to study insects in the winter, you must work with collections of dead insects or with living laboratory-reared material. Remember that dead, pinned insects are very brittle and delicate. They must be handled very carefully and never dropped or touched directly. Specimens whose legs, antennae and wings are broken and lost are essentially worthless. Also, damaged specimens will not be graded as highly in your insect collection.

Soft-Bodied Insects:

Many types of insects are soft-bodied and cannot be pinned successfully. The same is true of many immature insects that have not fully grown. If placed on pins, most soft-bodied insects will shrivel or decompose. Such insects must be preserved in liquids in rubber-stoppered glass vials. However, prior to preserving soft-bodied specimens for the long term, their color must be “fixed” or they may fade in some cases or blacken in others. The “fixing” process prevents, reduces or delays color change.

For the long term, insects are preserved in ethyl alcohol, usually of about 70 percent concentration (70% alcohol, 30% water). Isopropyl alcohol can also be used, but with less success. Over time stronger solutions can cause the colors of specimens to darken and bodies to shrivel. Remember that alcohol is a dehydrator and it removes water. These problems can be largely prevented in either of 2 ways. The best way is to “fix” the insect tissues and color is by killing the specimens in boiling water. For smaller specimens, simply dip them in boiling water for about 30 seconds and then transfer them to 70 percent alcohol. Use more extended periods for large-bodied insects.

The most preferred method, often used for caterpillars and other soft-bodied larvae, is to kill the insects in a special fixing solution called K.A.A.D. mixture. This solution is made by mixing one part of refined kerosene, two parts of glacial acetic acid (a weak acid), ten parts of 95 percent alcohol and one part of dioxane. A good feature of the K.A.A.D. solution is that it causes soft-bodied larvae to uncurl, distend and swell, expanding the tissues and making them easier to examine and study. Leaving specimens in the solution too long can cause the bodies to burst, however, so watch them very carefully. Small insects should not remain in the solution for more than 30 minutes while larger ones might require 2 to 3 hours. After they are fixed in the solution, they should be transferred to 70 percent alcohol in tightly closed vials with rubber stoppers.

Chemicals can be purchased directly from biological supply houses. Also, grain (ethyl) alcohol is sold in liquor stores. Vodka is another solution but it is usually sold at 40% strength. The 95% pure alcohol, or ethanol can be easily diluted to 70% strength by working in units to get the amount you need. To dilute 95% alcohol to 70%, use approximately 3 parts of 95% alcohol to 1 part distilled water.

Note that collection and specimen identification labels must accompany insect specimens in each vial. With the insects in the solution, top off the liquid to within 1/4" of the top of the vial. Wipe off the excess alcohol, then place an insect pin against the interior of the vial, and push a rubber stopper deep into the vial opening as the pin is simultaneously withdrawn. This procedure forces surplus air out of the vial as a stream of tiny bubbles which helps to ensure an airtight fit. Otherwise, the stopper may inadvertently pop out. Because the body contents of a large specimen may dilute the preservative, it is best to replace or top off the original alcohol with fresh alcohol after a day or two. After this special treatment, colors should not fade much. Over time, the alcohol may evaporate, so it may be necessary to add a bit more from time to time.



PINNING, MOUNTING AND DISPLAYING INSECTS:

Temporary Storage Boxes:

You will need a least one, but more likely two “Schmidt Boxes”, a specially designed and constructed container for long term insect storage. The lid is tightly fitted to the box to help prevent entry of other scavenger insects which may feed on dead insect specimens, into the box. Cigar boxes also make excellent containers for temporary storage of pinned insect specimens. Line the bottom of cigar boxes with styrofoam material, corkboard, balsa or cardboard to receive and hold the insect pins. While cigar boxes are fine for temporary storage they are poor storage boxes for long periods of time. For extended storage tighter containers are necessary.

Insect Pins:

Special pins are needed to pin insects that you have collected. They come in several sizes from 0 through 7 with the size of the pin increasing with each number. Number 3 insect pins are the best for the majority of purposes. Insect pins are purchased from biological supply houses and can be found in some hobby stores. Never use regular common pins.

Pin Storage Rack:

A 4-inch long section of 2x4" lumber with 6 and a half inch diameter drilled holes, each about 3/4" deep, makes a handy pin storage rack.

Pinning Block:

Larger insects should be mounted using a wooden pinning block which is a simple piece of equipment. A very small hole is drilled almost through the bottom in the middle of each step. A simpler pinning block can be made by drilling three holes—1, 3/4, and 1/2 inch deep—into a small wooden block. Proper use of a pinning block will result in an attractive collection with the insect, collection and identification labels in perfect uniform position.


Spreading Board:

Mounting butterflies and moths is a special technique that requires a spreading board to do an attractive job. The spreading board is usually made of soft pine with a piece of balsa or cork underneath the center groove to receive insect pins. An acceptable spreading board can be made from balsa wood or cardboard strips, 2 heavy paper clasps, four corks and four common pins. Spreading boards can also be ordered from biological supply houses and hobby stores.


Pinning Insects:

The proper way to pin an insect depends on the type of insect that you have collected. Remember that soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars, mayflies, silverfish and some others cannot be pinned. The pin should be just slightly to the right of the midline of the insect. Specimens should also be level and squarely mounted on the pin. The use of a pinning block will help in obtaining proper height and positioning.


First, place the pin in the insect thorax in the proper position on the top step of the pinning block, pushing it in so that the top of the insect is quite close to the pin head. Then, remove the pin from the top step, reverse it and place the head of the pin in the lowest step of the pinning block. Push it down as far as it will go. This will result in positioning each insect about one-fourth inch from the pin head. The middle step on the block is to position the collection label. The lowest step is used to position the insect identification label.


Very small insects, that are less than 3/16 inch, should either be pinned with tiny needles or glued on their right sides to tiny paper triangles. The latter procedure is called pointing. When pointing, first push a regular insect pin through the butt end of the triangle. Level the triangle by pushing the pin through the hole in the highest step of your pinning block. Bend the tip of the paper triangle slightly downward with a forceps and touch it to a tiny drop of glue or clear fingernail polish. Pick up the small insect carefully with forceps and mount it by touching it on its thorax, which is its right side, to the drop of glue. Adjust the insect so that it remains squarely in position, then allow the glue to dry.


When using tiny pins, be very careful because they stick to the fingers and can easily be transferred to the mouth, nose or eyes simply by rubbing.

Pinning and Spreading Butterflies and Moths:

These insects must be done correctly or else their appearance will take away from the overall quality of your collection. This is an area where many beginning entomology students start off on the wrong initial step because they collect the insects but do not get them pinned immediately afterwards. In some rare cases it may be necessary to store them temporarily until they can be pinned.

Insects with large wings, such as butterflies, moths and dragonflies, can be temporarily stored and dried in paper triangles until you have time to relax, pin and spread them. Write the collection data on the outside of the triangle so that you have the information when you are ready to mount and label the specimen. Then place the newly collected, pinched and killed insect inside the triangle with the wings held together above the body. Store them like files in an insect storage box with a tight fitting lid and add naphthalene crystals if the specimens will be stored for an extended period. Working with fresh specimens is much easier.

When pinning and spreading a butterfly or moth cut several thin strips of paper about 1/4" wide and 8"-10" long. Once these are ready, pick up the insect by the thorax and carefully push a pin through the middle of the thorax. Adjust the position of the butterfly on the pin and make sure that it is level, both on the sides and in both front and back. Place the pin into the hole in the tallest step of the pinning block, being very careful not to damage the fragile wings. Adjust the width of the groove in the spreading board to be just slightly wider than the body of the butterfly. Remove the pinned insect from the pinning block and push the pin into the slot of your spreading board until the bases of the wings are just level with the top of the two side pieces. On some spreading boards this may require the use of a pin pliers, a tool that allows you to place pressure on the lower part of the pin, so that it will more easily penetrate the cork or balsa wood strip. With the fingers this is difficult or in some cases not possible.

Slip a paper strip between the wings and use it to force the wings on one side down into position. Pin the ends of the paper down to hold the wings loosely in place. Do the same with the wings on the other side, also pinning the ends of the paper down.

Now take another insect pin or needle and slip the point through the leading edge of the right forewing near its attachment to the thorax. Be careful not to tear the wing. Loosen the forward end of the paper strip and gradually bring the forewing up into final position. Pin the wing down with a paper strip. Repeat this procedure with the forewing on the other side. Using the same technique bring both hindwings into proper position and fasten all four wings firmly with the paper strips.

Note carefully that the rear edge of the two forewings should make a perfectly straight line across the back. The hindwings should be pinned so that the rear edge is held just slightly away from the abdomen. Position antennae with pins and if the abdomen has drooped, prop it up with pins so that it dries in a natural position.

Allow specimens to dry for several days before you remove the pins. Drying freezes the wing muscles of the insect in position. If you rush the drying process by placing specimens in an oven it may result in the wingtips curling upward and ruining the insect's appearance.

Large-bodied moths should be cut open on the underside of the abdomen and the contents removed with a cotton swab. The body cavity should be filled with cotton so that the specimen looks natural from above. If this is not done, the fatty material in the abdomen will decompose, releasing oils which may discolor and ruin the specimen.


Labeling Insects:

A collection has little value unless each insect is properly and accurately labeled. Labeling must be done as soon as possible after collecting, pinning and mounting or vital information may be lost. Note that many insects in museums today stand as living documents of biological diversity. Their precise collection locations, habitats, and data on plants on which they were found is very important documentation. Many of these habitats have been or are being altered and in some cases destroyed. Many plant and animal species, once common and together in biological ecosystems, are now endangered or in some cases are already gone. It is essential that the presence of insects, plants and other creatures be documented for future generations.

You can easily make your labels with your computer and print them off. Trim labels with a paper cutter so the edges look like nice, clean, and flat rectangles. 2 labels should be placed on the pin below each insect specimen. Both labels should be of the same size and lined up parallel to the length of the body of the insect - not cross-wise. The insect head should be at the left and the label should read from left to right. However, in the case of "pointed" specimens, the labels should be parallel to the length of the point. The top label should have the country and city in which the insect was collected, the collection date and the name of the collector. The lower label should show the Order name of the insect. Many entomologists place another label beneath the collection label which gives the host plant, habitat or other pertinent information, however, this label is not required. Print the information on the labels as neatly as you can. Neatness, accuracy and quality are important.







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