How to Collect and Preserve Insects

John C. Watson, Chairman; Thomas Park, Ph.D., Biology; L. L. Sloss, Ph.D., Geology; Roger Adams, Ph.D., D.Sc., Chemistry; Robert H. Anderson, B.S.C.E., Engineering; Charles E. Olmsted, Ph.D., Forestry; W. L. Everitt, E.E., Ph.D., Representing the President of the University of Illinois; Delyte W. Morris, Ph.D., President of Southern Illinois University.

NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY DIVISION, Urbana, Illinois
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL STAFF
George Sprugel, Jr., Ph.D., Chief
Herbert H. Ross, Ph.D., Assistant Chief
Robert O. Watson, B.S., Assistant to the Chief

Section of Economic Entomology
William H. Luckmann, Ph.D., Entomologist and Head
Willis N. Bruce, Ph.D., Entomologist
Ronald H. Meyer, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist
James E. Appleby, Ph.D., Associate Entomologist
Robert D. Pausch, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist
Ralph E. Sechriest, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist
Delmar Broersma, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist
Joseph V. Maddox, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist
Edward J. Armbrust, Ph.D., Assistant Entomologist
Dannel McCollum, B.A., Technical Assistant
Gregory P. Marsh, B.S., Technical Assistant
Sue E. Watkins, Junior Scientific Assistant
H. B. Petty, Ph.D., Entomologist in Extension[1]
Stevenson Moore, III, Ph.D., Entomologist in Extension[1]
Roscoe Randell, M.S., Technical Assistant in Extension[1]
Clarence E. White, B.S., Technical Assistant in Extension[1]
Stanley Rachesky, M.S., Technical Assistant in Extension[1]
D. E. Kuhlman, M.S., Technical Assistant in Extension[1]
Amal C. Banerjee, Ph.D., Research Associate[1]
Jean G. Wilson, B.A., Research Associate[1]
Ranu Banerjee, B.A., Research Assistant[1]
Ayten Hatidoglu, B.S., Research Assistant[1]
Keun S. Park, M.S., Research Assistant[1]
Keturah Reinbold, M.S., Research Assistant[1]

Section of Faunistic Surveys and Insect Identification
H. H. Ross, Ph.D., Assistant Chief and Head
Milton W. Sanderson, Ph.D., Taxonomist
Lewis J. Stannard, Jr., Ph.D., Taxonomist
Philip W. Smith, Ph.D., Taxonomist
Leonora K. Gloyd, M.S., Associate Taxonomist
Wallace E. LaBerge, Ph.D., Associate Taxonomist
Robert T. Allen, M.S., Technical Assistant
Bernice Sweeney, Technical Assistant
Bess White, A.B., Technical Assistant
John D. Unzicker, Ph.D., Research Assistant[1]

Section of Aquatic Biology
George W. Bennett, Ph.D., Aquatic Biologist and Head
William C. Starrett, Ph.D., Aquatic Biologist
R. W. Larimore, Ph.D., Aquatic Biologist
David H. Buck, Ph.D., Associate Aquatic Biologist
Robert C. Hiltibran, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist
Donald F. Hansen, Ph.D., Associate Aquatic Biologist
William F. Childers, Ph.D., Assistant Aquatic Biologist
David L. Thomas, B.S., Research Assistant
Maryfran Martin, Technical Assistant
Claude Russell Rose, Field Assistant
Dennis Dooley, Field Assistant
Charles F. Thoits, III, B.A., Research Associate[1]
David Krulac, Project Assistant[1]

Section of Applied Botany and Plant Pathology
J. Cedric Carter, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist and Head
J. L. Forsberg, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist
Robert A. Evers, Ph.D., Botanist
Robert Dan Neely, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist
E. B. Himelick, Ph.D., Plant Pathologist
Walter Hartstirn, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist
D. F. Schoeneweiss, Ph.D., Assistant Plant Pathologist
David Russell Vance, Technical Assistant
Robert J. Slattery, B.S., Technical Assistant
Robert S. Perry, B.S., Technical Assistant
Betty S. Nelson, Technical Assistant
Sylvia P. Brockstein, M.S., Technical Assistant

Section of Wildlife Research
Glen C. Sanderson, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist and Head
F. C. Bellrose, B.S., Wildlife Specialist
H. C. Hanson, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist
Richard R. Graber, Ph.D., Wildlife Specialist
Ronald F. Labisky, M.S., Associate Wildlife Specialist
William R. Edwards, M.S., Associate Wildlife Specialist
William W. Cochran, JR., Assistant Wildlife Specialist
Robert E. Greenberg, M.S., Research Assistant
Helen C. Schultz, M.A., Technical Assistant
Lucinda Janis, Technical Assistant
Robert D. Crompton, Field Assistant
Ronald Duzan, Laboratory Assistant
Mary Ann Johnson, Laboratory Assistant
William J. Francis, Ph.D., Research Associate[1]
Jack A. Ellis, M.S., Research Associate[1]
James A. Bailey, Ph.D., Research Associate[1]
Gerald G. Montgomery, M.S., Research Associate[1]
William L. Anderson, M.A., Research Associate[1]
George B. Joselyn, M.S., Research Associate[1]
Gerald L. Storm, M.S., Field Ecologist[1]
Ronald L. Westemeier, B.S., Research Associate[1]
Stanley L. Etter, M.S., Research Assistant[1]
Robert E. Hawkins, B.S., Research Assistant[1]
Jeffrey C. Hanson, M.S., Research Assistant[1]
Keith T. Dauphin, Project Assistant[1]

Section of Publications and Public Relations
Owen F. Glissendorf, M.S., Technical Editor and Head
Robert M. Zewadski, M.S., Associate Technical Editor
Nancy K. Ginzel, B.S., Assistant Technical Editor
Wilmer D. Zehr, Technical Photographer
William L. Taylor, Technical Assistant

Technical Library
Doris F. Dodds, B.A., M.S.L.S., Technical Librarian
Patricia F. Stenstrom, B.A., M.S.L.S., Assistant Technical Librarian

CONSULTANTS: Herpetology, Hobart M. Smith, Ph.D., Professor of Zoology, University of Illinois; Parasitology, Norman D. Levine, Ph.D., Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and Veterinary Research, University of Illinois; Wildlife Research, Willard D. Klimstra, Ph.D., Professor of Zoology and Director of Cooperative Wildlife Research, Southern Illinois University; Statistics, Horace W. Norton, Ph.D., Professor of Statistical Design and Analysis, University of Illinois.

[1]Employed on cooperative projects with one of several agencies: University of Illinois, Illinois Agricultural Extension Service, Illinois Department of Conservation, National Science Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Public Health Service, and others.

This paper is a contribution from the Section of Faunistic Surveys and Insect Identification.
(33711—10M—10-66)30

Where to Collect 1
What to Use 2: Nets 3; Killing Bottles 6; Aspirators or Suckers 9; Sifter 12; Berlese Funnel 12; Equipment for Collecting Aquatic Insects 16
How to Handle Unmounted Specimens 17: Temporary Cases 17; Relaxing Boxes and Jars 19
How to Mount and Preserve Specimens 20: Preservation by Pinning 20; Spreading Board for Moths and Butterflies 24; Preservation in Fluid 26
How to Label the Specimens 26
Housing the Collection Permanently 27: Insect Boxes 27; Precaution Against Pests 27
The Insect World 28
How to Identify Specimens 34
Synopsis of Illinois Insect Orders 35: Primitive Wingless Insects 35; Diplura 36; Protura 36; Collembola 36; Microcoryphia 36; Thysanura 38; Primitive Winged Insects 38; Ephemeroptera 38; Odonata 38; Folding-Wing Insects 40; Cursoria 42; Isoptera 43; Orthoptera 43; Dermaptera 44; Plecoptera 45; Zoraptera 45; Corrodentia 45; Phthiraptera 45; Mallophaga 47; Anoplura 47; Thysanoptera 47; Hemiptera 48; Megaloptera 52; Neuroptera 52; Coleoptera 53; Hymenoptera 54; Mecoptera 55; Trichoptera 57; Lepidoptera 58; Diptera 60; Siphonaptera 61
Relatives of Insects 62: Isopoda 62; Amphipoda 62; Scorpionida 64; Pseudoscorpionida 64; Phalangida 64; Araneida 65; Acarina 65; Diplopoda 66; Chilopoda 67
The State Insect Collection 67
Reports on Illinois Insects 69
Useful Books 70
How to Ship Specimens 70
Where to Buy Supplies 71

Printed by Authority of the State of Illinois, Ch. 127. IRS, Par. 58.22.

Illinois streams are a source of many insects of interest to the amateur collector. Shown here is the Salt Fork River, south of Oakwood.

HOW TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE INSECTS

H. H. ROSS

With rather simple equipment, the amateur as well as the trained entomologist can make a worthwhile collection of insects.

The making of such a collection may have educational and recreational as well as scientific values. Developing this hobby is one of the finest ways for students, especially those in agricultural districts, to become acquainted with the large number of injurious and beneficial insects that they encounter about the home and in the fields. High school classes in biology find excellent laboratory material in the many insects available for rearing and study. Both old and young collectors find a great deal of pleasure in working with the showy and beautiful insects, such as beetles, moths, and butterflies; the satisfaction derived comes both from having relaxation from the day’s work and from making real contributions to scientific knowledge. Many entomological museums welcome the opportunity to examine carefully prepared and labeled collections. These collections supply distribution records for insect species, in addition to other information of value to technical entomologists. Also, the amateur collector profits from his contact with specialists who can help him identify his specimens and advise him at any stage of his work.

It is hoped that this circular will show how easy it is to make a start in insect collecting and will give the student helpful ideas on how and where to begin.

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