How to prepare an insect box?

How to collect insects

Insect collection can be a hobby or a part of an entomology course. In my case, it was a part of an entomology course but with time it became a hobby. Insects can be collected for identification of already present or new species; this facilitates insect management for crops as well as for protection of endangered species.

Things you need for insect collection

How to find insects?

Insect population and diversity is abundant at high temperatures and reduces with a decrease in temperature. You can start finding insects from late spring till the end of summer; you will likely find different stages of insect growth. The purpose of insect collection is important i.e. if it is for taxonomic classification or for identification of insects infesting a particular crop.  The places to visit for insect collection can be decided based on the purpose of insect collection. Moreover, a little bit of literature review can be done to know more about the habitat of insects; for example insects like dragonflies, butterflies and damselflies are aerial whereas larval and pupal stages of insects can be found in the soil. Furthermore beetles, flies, wasps and leafhoppers are most abundant on plants. During rainy days insects can also be found around the street lights.

How to catch an insect with insect net?

When you see any insect, without disturbing it instantly place the insect net over it and then wait for 2-3 seconds. When you observe no insect activity inside the net then then carefully transfer the insect to the insect killing jar having ethyl acetate in it. If you are catching an insect from the ground then after placing the insect net over the insect, just raise the end of net little bit upward as the insect will fly upwards and it becomes easy to observe and catch insects.

How to differentiate insects from other organisms?

Majority of the insects have three pair of legs, one pair of antennae and an exoskeleton.

How to make a killing jar?

Firstly add ethyl acetate in the jar, then transfer the insect in that jar from the insect net and immediately close the lid. Several small insects can be grouped in one box but be careful while putting together large and robust insects like beetles with delicate insects like butterflies.

How to use a spreading board?

If we directly carry out pinning of some winged insects then the wings lose their original form. Wings of butterflies, moths and dragonflies can be spread out flat on a spreading board. Insert a pin in the thorax of the insect and spread the wings in a particular manner with the help of parchment paper strips.

How to do pinning of insects?

Mostly insects are pinned in the thorax but for beetles and bugs pinning is done at the right side of abdomen. For very small insects like aphids and jassids, double mounting is done, in which firstly the insect is pasted on a piece of hard paper with glue and then a pin is put into the paper.

How to label insects?

Although there are lot of ways of labeling insects but the most common manner is to write the common name, scientific name, family, order and place of collection. Take a print out of these labels and put them in same pin that contains insects.

How to protect collected insects from other insects?

Insects like ants and termites mostly feed on dead insects. This happened with me, when I opened my entomology box, it was attacked by ants. We can protect the insects by placing naphthalene balls inside the insect box.

Here is a collection of insects that I collected during my undergrad