PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE 6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference :-
885
20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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along the dotted lines as shown in the diagram (fig. 1). Place the forefinger of the right hand into the envelope thus made (fig. 2), and with the finger and thumb of the left hand firmly twist the apex so that a rigid pocket is formed (fig. 3.) Place one insect in this, close the open portion by folding over the upper edge, and the thumb nail along the folded edge so as to scure the insect firmly (fig. 4). If the paper is too stiff, the cushion will be too rigid and the insect will shake about inside it, with.probable damage to the legs and antennae.
pass
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
-Fig 3.
Diagrams to illustrate the construction of "Cushion "
Fig. 4.
envelopes.
Sawdust, if properly prepared, is the most satisfactory packing material for hard-bodied insects, such as beetles, plant-bugs, grass- hoppers, &c. But before use it should be well shaken in a muslin bag, so as to get rid of all the fine dust, which is liable to clog on the specimens. Of the prepared sawdust take as much as will fill a 2-lb. biscuit tin, add to it a good handful of flake or powdered naphthalin and a teaspoonful of medical creosote, and thoroughly mix it together; this packing will prevent the attacks of insects or mould.
Strips of cork-carpet and peat for pinning operations, and for improvising store-boxes.
Willow chip-bares and empty match-boxes are very useful for speci- mens which are to be packed in sawdust.
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LABEL. It is impossible to insist too strongly upon the immense importance of giving full data for every specimen captured. The following points should be mentioned on every label:- (1.) Name of locality; in the case of native villages, farms and so forth, the compass-bearing and approximate distance to the nearest well-known town, river, mountain, &c., should be stated; (2) altitude; (3) data-day, month, and year-thus, 8, V., 09.; (4) Col- lector's name; (5) any brief note of interest, such as the name of the food-plant; the name of the host, in the case of a parasite, &c. Longer notes on habits, range, seasonal occurrence, economic signi- ficance, &c., should be kept in a note-book, under a number corresponding with a number on the specimen. pinned insects, where the brief data are precisely similar for a long In the case of series of specimens, a small square of paper of a particular colour
y be attached to each insect, and labels giving the data need only be attached to one or two of them. Whenever insects are taken paired, this should be carefully noted, and they should be labelled respectively, “ A-in cop, with A1,” and “ A'-in cop, with A.”
PRESERVATION.-Dr. W. M. Graham, of Lagos, has found that mould may be effectually prevented by rubbing the inside of the box in which insects are pinned with a bit of sponge soaked in ordinary medical (beechwood) creosote, until the cork lining shows through the paper. As an additional precaution, a small quantity of naph- thalin may be melted in a test-tube, or iron spoon, and poured on the bottom of the box, to which it will firmly adhere. The latter method may also be adopted in the case of boxes containing insects packed in papers or in sawdust, a few drops of creosote being fist sprinkled on the bottom of the box, and a few more drops on the lid when it has been filled. Ants are often a serious pest to the entomologist in the tropics. They will not enter boxes which have been prepared as above, but it is advisable to isolate the tables on which insects are kept by placing the legs in saucers or shallow tins, which are then thickly sprinkled with Keating's Powder. Although this powder gradually loses its efficacy, it is generally a long time before the ants find this out; still, it is well to renew it every two or three months. Creosote must never be allowed to touch the specimens directly, and in all cases it must be used very sparingly, otherwise it is liable to discolour the insects permanently.
BIONOMICS.-Any information with regard to the natural habits of noxious insects is certain to be of value, however trivial it may appear to the observer. For example, any of the following points may be usefully noted: peculiarities of local distribution, seasons of appearance and disappearance, relative abundance in different years, times of feeding, nature of food, methods and times of egg-laying, food and habits of larvae, &c., &c. Further, good series of any injurious insect should be sent from any locality visited, even though they may be only a few miles apart; for only thus can a proper survey of its entire range be made. A knowledge of the egg, larvae and pupa is often of considerable importance, and whenever insects are being reared specimens of each stage should be preserved in spirits. Finally, in the case of insects which attack plants, it is not sufficient merely to collect the insects and their larvae, &c.,
14869
B
Reference :-
000
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE T