QUOTE;Guidelines and Highlights of Insect Killing, Preserving and Collecting:
Hard-bodied insects (they would crunch if you step on them) should be placed into a sealed canister and put into your freezer (or the one in the MG office). Freezing insects is an excellent way to kill and keep specimens hydrated. You do not need to buy killing jars (these can be dangerous and you need to pin them immediately). Keep the specimens frozen until you can pin them or bring them in for pinning. Do not keep them in the freezer for extended periods of time (they will get freezer burnt and are useless). Do not let the specimens go dry; it is a difficult process to re-hydrate a bone-dry specimen.
Place soft-bodied insects (like aphids, maggots, caterpillars and other immature insects) into isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or vinegar. Unless we can get a liquor license, we don?t have access to the preferred fixative, ethanol. Large soft-bodied insects (such as big caterpillars) should be fixed in boiling water. Bring the water to a boil, then remove from the heat and let sit for a few moments until the water is not violent. Throw the specimens into the water; the surface tension usually keeps them afloat. Fish out the insects and place into an airtight vial with alcohol. NOTE: Keep alcohol away from your boiling area.
If you collect immature insects (especially ones with complete metamorphosis) like caterpillars. Kill and preserve only a few. Leave the others to complete their life cycle to adulthood. Check the site regularly and collect each stage (pupae and adult too). Or try and raise the insects yourself by placing them in a cage and feeding them host material. Techniques to do this are in the hand out. This is extremely important because many insects are unidentifiable without the adult stage or even without both males and females. Additionally, you may be very surprised of what else might pop out! This is a great way to find parasitoids (most important beneficials and my favorite bugs).
Finally and MOST IMPORTANTLY, keep records of each specimen collected. An insect collected with out a label is senseless slaughter of a living thing because it is useless to anyone. Do not neglect this responsibility. Always label your bugs and always have a pen and paper handy. You NEED to take the following information:
The location that you have collected the specimen. State, County, City, Street Address, or significant landmark such as Cornwall Park.
The habitat/host or any biologically significant association. Like collected from raspberry. Or collected on edge of tidal pool. Or collected from dead log. Or reared from cherry leaves?.
Sampling technique or collection method. Trapped at light. Pit-fall trap. Hand collected.
Killing method and preservation. Boiled in H2O, Isopropyl alcohol, vinegar... End Quote. http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/homehort/pest/collection.htm
Doug
Last edited by DShock; 02-09-2008 at 11:11 AM.
Enjoying the joys of others and suffering with them- these are the best guides for man. A.E.
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