ZooBot

INSECT COLLECTION ASSIGNMENT

The insect collection will consist of 15 properly pinned insects from a variety of insect Orders. All insects
must be collected locally – no exotic specimens! Due Date: September 23 or 24

Materials needed
Euthanizing - The best way to kill the insects is to put them in a sealed bag or container in the freezer
for at least a day. Pin within a couple of days before they start drying out. Another option is to
make a small glass jar "loaded" with ethyl acetate (often an ingredient in fingernail polish
remover) absorbed on a cotton ball.

Pins - Insect pins (long black pins made especially for insect pinning) or regular straight pins are
required (no push pins).

Net and Book - A net will be very helpful in catching many insects. They can be purchased … or
make your own. See Figure 4 for plans for making your own net. Even simple, hobbled-together
nets can be very effective. ID Books may be checked out of the library either in town or at
school. We have some that we will use in class. The internet is also very helpful and 5VH
webpage has links to a few sites.

Box - A sturdy, covered box is necessary with a piece of Styrofoam to in the insects on. We have
some Styrofoam for you if needed.

Field Guide or Identification Websites (only) – To help with identification, look at some of the many
useful insect identification websites or complete insect Field Guide books. There are field guides
available at the library or in 5 th grade science classroom for use. (The students will also be
learning about some helpful resources in class or check Ms. Van’t Hul’s science webpage!)

Pinning and Labeling:

Do not take insects out of the freezer until you are prepared to pin them. (They will dry out in the
freezer so don't leave them in there more than a week or two.) Most insects are pinned through the thorax
a little to the right of center, but beetles should be pinned through the right wing. Generally, insert the pin
through the insect until the insect is approximately 1.0cm (3/8") from the head of the pin. Pin the insect onto
a piece of thick Styrofoam until the insect rests near the Styrofoam. With the aid of pins or tweezers move
the legs and antennae to a natural position. The insect will dry just the way you arrange it, so do this
quickly and carefully. Leave the insect in this position for a week (or more for larger insects) to allow for
adequate drying. Large winged insects (moths, butterflies) should be pinned on a piece of foam with a
groove cut into it to accommodate its body; fix the insect in place with enough pins and paper strips to keep
them flat (see Fig 3). Once dry you can lift them off the Styrofoam and move them to your box. These are
suggestions for help on pinning, but you can do what works best for you!

*note location Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Insects properly pinned
1cm

Bug Beetle Bee Grasshopper

*Labels evenly and *Left wing extended only for 917293404.doc

consistently spaced grasshoppers and katydids
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Once they are dry, pinned specimens are to be labeled by a top and bottom tag which must include:
Tag 1 Tag 2
-location of capture -Order
-date of capture -Common name
-name of collector
example: Yolo Co., Davis, CA
Hymenoptera
Sept 8, 2002
John Doe Yellow Jacket

 Finally, display your collection in a box with Styrofoam on the bottom. A display box is not
required, but helps to preserve the quality of the insects! Metal coat hanger
for example
Grading: Fig. 4
The goal is quality not just quantity. The criteria used for
grading include: completeness, proper attempts at
identification, pinning/labeling technique, effort, organization
and overall neatness.

Please allow adequate time for the insects to dry before

the due date. Be aware that it takes longer for some
insects like mantids to dry.

A complete rubric has also been attached.

Checklist:

12-15 Insects :
Variety of Orders:
Quality:
Identification:
Display:
Neatness/Organization:
ID Tags
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Insect Collection FAQ

Can I use an insect that my little brother caught for me?
Yes. Remember that you must put the collector’s name on the label after you pin it. It is just like
citing a source on an English paper; failure to do so is equivalent to plagiarism. Also, if your
collection has a significant percentage of insects that were not collected by you, then your grade
will reflect that. (Just like an English paper that was entirely quotations without any of your own
ideas.)

Can I use an insect that I bought or that was collected somewhere else?
No. All of the insects must be collected and pinned by you (or collected by your family/friends on
your behalf). You may not purchase any insects or use those you collected from some far off land
on last summer’s vacation to Peru. When in doubt, ask the teacher ahead of time!

Where is the best place to collect insects?

Anywhere outdoors! Enjoy creation and keep your eyes open!

Can I use insects from a previous year’s collection?

No. This is cheating. No insects may be used from previous students.

What do I do with an insect that is too small to pin?

Glue it onto the tip of a small paper triangle then pin the triangle.

What kind of glue do I use?

Any glue that dries clear; Elmer’s glue or clear nail polish work well.

Which way do the labels face?

They must be aligned with the body of the insect so that the words can be read on the left side of
the insect’s body.

Do I have to spread the wings of small moths and butterflies?

Anything the size of a skipper or bigger (approx. the size of a dime) must have the wings spread
properly (90-degree angle on the back edge of the front wings). You may keep the wings in a
folded back position for smaller moths.

How do I pin a praying mantis?

Put the pin through the thorax at an angle with the head higher and the abdomen resting on the
styrofoam. The front legs should be in the “praying position” under its thorax. The back two pairs
of legs are treated like the other insects. Don’t spread a wing. There will be little room under the
mantis for labels, so they will be closer together than other insects.

Why do we KILL and collect insects?

Although it may seem best to preserve the insects, there are some valuable reasons for the
assignment: 1. How fun to go outside and explore God’s creation--Sort of like a hunting trip! 2.
We are able to look closely at the relationships in God’s web of life & how insects play an important
role (even though they are small!) 3. Most species are common & abundant, so collecting is ok!
4. Close study allows us to look at life cycles, behavior, survival techniques, and God’s creativity &
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wonder. 5. Study brings knowledge and often knowledge helps us to appreciate more, instead of
being scared of ‘bugs’!
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Ten reasons for collecting and preserving insect specimens

There is an increasing trend to discourage collection and preservation of biological organisms

including insects and their relatives. Although insects can be studied and enjoyed without killing
them using observation and photographic methods, there are a number of reasons or benefits from
procuring specimens:

1. Through collection and preservation efforts, new species are found and described. Many
undescribed insects remain in the world, even in Iowa.

2. Properly preserved and stored insect specimens can be enjoyed and studied for hundreds of
years while most insects live only for a period of days to months before they die and
decompose.

3. Names and identities of insects (and other organisms) change over time when new studies
reveal the need for a name change or can be compared to similar insects.

4. Insects are the most common form of wildlife encountered by people and are excellent
models of living systems useful in learning about several fields of science. Most species are
common and abundant and are not threatened by casual collection activities. Close
observation of preserved specimens can result in an understanding of form and function of
bodies or behavior, relationships between organisms or groups of organisms (, methods of
identifying organisms, and life cycles .

5. During the exercise of collecting insects, collectors learn about relationships between
insects and their environment, the importance of habitat, keys to species survival, and the
relationships between species groups such as hosts, predators and parasites, i.e., trophic
levels.

6. The study of insects in collections provides knowledge that can lead to a better
understanding and higher tolerance of this group of animals in our environment. Ignorance
about insects and their relatives can lead to an irrational fear of insects, called entomophobia
(fear of spiders is arachnaphobia), or even psychological problems such as imagining that your
body is infested with insects (delusionary parasitosis). Inability to determine beneficial insects
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(pollinators, predators, parasites) from pest insects can lead to unnecessary pesticide
(insecticide) use.

7. Insects and their relatives are fascinating creatures so unlike ourselves. Yet they share
many features with humans and other animals. People of all ages can participate in the study
of insects and making an insect collection is an activity to be shared with others, providing
enjoyment and exercise while being educational.

8. Many insect specimens are simply beautiful to the eye. Butterfly wings have been called
“nature’s canvas.” Other insects are ugly and horrifying to look at. When mounted and
displayed properly, insect specimens or insect parts can become an art form similar to
taxidermists that display stuffed animals or artists using paint to make a picture.

9. Insect specimens make great souvenirs. Assuming laws and regulations pertaining to the
collection and transport of biological specimens are honored, specimens collected on vacation
trips can make useful reminders of these trips to far-away places. Properly maintained, the
specimens can last more than a person’s lifetime.

10. Making insect collections, particularly bug hunting expeditions, are really fun! In a sense
it’s like a real hunting trip, except you do not need guns or hunting licenses (with exceptions
in some park lands). It’s generally a lot cheaper, too! Going bug hunting as an adult can even
make you feel like a kid again.
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Insect Collection Labels Use Order labels like the ones below to organize your collection.
These should be placed on the foam in the bottom of the box, with the members of each order pinned in
rows below the labels going from the back of the box to the front.

Protura Dermaptera Neuroptera Hymenoptera

Thysanura Embioptera Coleoptera Mantodea

Collembola Zoraptera Strepsiptera Phasmatodea

Ephemeroptera Psocoptera Mecoptera Blattodea

Odonata Mallophaga Trichoptera

Orthoptera Anaplura Lepidoptera

Isoptera Thysanoptera Diptera

Plecotera Hemiptera Siphonaptera

Location and Name Labels:

Prepared, pinned specimens are to be identified by a top and bottom tag which must include:
Top tag Bottom tag
-location of capture -Order
-date of capture -Common name
-name of collector
example:
Yolo Co., Davis, CA
Hymenoptera
Sept 8, 2008
Yellow Jacket
John Doe
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As previously mentioned the labels below are available online as a Word document for you to fill in
as you collect. Copy and paste to make additional tags.

(Top Tag) (Bottom Tag) (Top Tag) (Bottom Tag) (Top Tag) (Bottom Tag)

Yolo Co., Davis, CA Yolo Co., Davis, CA Yolo Co., Davis, CA

Hymenoptera Hymenoptera Hymenoptera
Sept 8, 2008 Sept 8, 2008 Sept 8, 2008
Yellow Jacket Yellow Jacket Yellow Jacket
John Doe John Doe John Doe