C.U.885
4
Precautions in using the killing bottle:-
1. In damp countries the surface should be covered with several layers of blotting paper to prevent wetting of the specimens.
2. The stopper should be well-fitting, and when the bottle
is not in use should always be kept in.
3. If the surface become brown, and the smell faint,
scraping will restore its efficacy.
4. Insects should be removed frour the killing bottle as
soon as they are dead (usually after five minutes).
The only satisfactory way of preserving Diptera for identification is by dry mounting. This process, however, is simply done, and takes but little time :-
•
1. If only one fly of the same kind be obtained pin it
sideways through the thorax.
2. If two be obtained, treat the first as before, but pin the
second rertically through the thorax.
3. Where possible, at least six specimens of the fly should
be sent.
Pins required.-Headless silver pins are far the best, others causing verdigris to appear sooner or later. Two sizes only are necessary: No. 3 (15 mm. in length], and No. 0. Both sizes can be obtained from Messrs. Watkins and Doncaster, 36, Strand, London, from whom all entomological requisites can be obtained. The larger size may be used for large flies, but the smaller for flies as big as the common house fly or smaller.
Boxes.-Pinned flies may be sent to England in any small box, such as a cigar box or tobacco tin, though metal boxes are prefer- able. A piece of sheet cork or cork carpet is made roughly to line the box, in which it must be made to adhere firmly. On this. the flies are pinned, and the whole is covered by a sheet of paper resting on the surface of the pins to prevent damage due to any specimen which may get loose.
If pinning is impossible, the insects may be packed separately in small pill or match-boxes. These boxes may be packed in layers of tissue or cigarette paper, held in place by pledgets of cotton wool gently compressing them. The flies can also be enveloped gently in tissue paper and placed in a box, in dry saw- dust moistened with carbolic acid. A drop or two of carbolic acid dropped upon the inner side of the cover of the pill-box will also be useful as a preservative against mould or insects feeding on dead specimens.
With each specimen particulars should be given :-Date and place of collection, host being sucked, the collector's name, the colour of living specimens, and other remarks of interest. These details should be written as legibly as possible.
5
Where flies are pinned the pin may transfix the label. Where flies are boxed the label should be gummed to the box, or be laid loosely inside it. Larvae of flies may be killed by a moment's immersion in boiling water. Preserve in 50 per cent. spirit, but do not place many specimens in a tube.
TICKS.
Adult ticks are eight-legged creatures which live by suck- ing the blood of their hosts (man and other mammalia, birds, reptiles, amphibians-rarely insects). They bore their mouth- parts deeply into the skin, and are at times difficult to remove.
(1) The large bean-like creatures are females. The small flat creatures are young females, males, and immature forms. many different forms as possible should be collected, males especially being looked for. They may be recognised by having the whole hack covered by a hard shield--they are often found beneath the gorged females.
As
(2) If roughly removed, an important part-the "false head " -will be left behind, embedded in the host's skin, and the specimen spoiled. This must be avoided. If the creatures will not come away without breaking, they should be induced to let go by touching them with a brush or finger dipped in any oil,
(3) All parasites from one species of animal from one locality may be placed in the same tube, but care must be taken not to mix the parasites of different animals (e.g., sheep and cattle) though from the same place. Especially is it important to keep parasites from different localities separate.
(4) Label legibly in pencil (dark); place the label inside the tube. State the name of the host, colour of living tick, date and place of collection, and collector's name on the label.
(5) Specimens may be sent (a) preserved in spirit, or (b) dry. (a) Sixty per cent. rectified spirit should be used as a preserva- tive, but specimens must not be crowded into tubes; (b) Pack specimens dry, so that they shall not shake together, placing, if necessary, soft paper or a piece of rag (not cotton wool) in the tube.
FLEAS.
Fleas are found on mammals and birds, in the hair or feathers. They are also found in their holes or nests. As soon as their host
gets
cold the fleas leave it. In the case of large mammals the fleas may be captured by turning back the hair soon after death. The fleas can be killed by touching them with a brush moistened with spirit, chloroform, or benzine. They will stick to the brush and readily float off in the tube of preservative. Should the host be small, place it in a small box or linen bag, with a few drops of chloroform, or benzine. The fleas will then be found dead on the bottom of the box or bag, or among the
19
: