When labeling insects the labels are presented in this order top down: Locality, additional locality/voucher label/accession numbers, insect identification. When drying insects with wings such as butterflies setting paper is used to position the wings. When drying an insect the relaxed insect is spread out accordingly using pins on a foam block where it can dry and retain its positioning. When pin-mounting small insects the insect is glued to a piece of non acidic, triangle paper. In scientific collections it is often found that the insect's wings, legs, and antenna are tucked underneath it to conserve space. Orthopteroids often have left wings spread. When pinning insects with wings for display it is important to display them properly: Lepidoptera wings should always be spread. The pin should sit with 1/4 of the pin above the insect as to allow enough room for labels to be readable underneath. It is better to pin a insect that has died recently enough that they have not dried yet because it allows the thoracic muscles to adhere to the pin (previously dried specimens must have glue applied to the pin location to avoid spinning). The large majority of the time insects are pinned vertically through their mesothorax and slightly off-center to the right of the mid-line. Dried preservation is by far the most common form of insect preservation. There are several different preservation methods that are used some of which include: dried preservation (pinning), liquid preservation, slide mounts, other various preservation methods.
How many bugs in a box?: a pop up counting book skin#
Another now mostly historical approach is Caterpillar inflation where the innards were removed and the skin dried. Soft-bodied insects, such as those in the larval stage, are generally fixed in a vial containing an ethanol and water solution. However, killing jars are generally only used on hard-bodied insects. Once collected, a killing jar is used to kill required insects before they damage themselves trying to escape. Leaf litter sieves are used by coleopterists and to collect larvae.
Other types of nets used for collecting insects include beating nets and aquatic nets. Sweeping continues for some distance and then the net is flipped over, with the bag hanging over the rim, trapping the insects until they can be removed with a pooter. This requires a heavy net fabric such as sailcloth to prevent tearing, although light nets can be used if swept less vigorously. The collector walks forward while sweeping, and the net is moved through plants and grasses with force. The sweep net is swept back and forth through vegetation quickly turning the opening from side to side and following a shallow figure eight pattern. It is similar to a butterfly net, except that the bag is generally constructed from more rugged material. A sweep net is used to collect insects from grass and brush. The bag of a butterfly net is generally constructed from a lightweight mesh to minimize damage to delicate butterfly wings. Aerial insect nets are used to collect flying insects. Several different types of nets are commonly used actively to collect insects.