COLLECTING INSECTS
     Collecting Equipment
     Trapping Equipment
     Collecting Techniques

PRESERVING INSECTS
     Equipment
     Preservation

Becoming a serious collector
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Job opportunities
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Acknowledgements
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References
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APPENDIX
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Equipment - Pins, Steels\minutens, Polyporous pith, Points, Setting board

The requirements will vary with the types of insects collected, the list below covers most general collecting equipment.

Pins
Stainless steel pins must be used, because they do not corrode or become brittle with age. Entomological pins are 3,8cm long and come in various thicknesses. The most useful pins are a no.5 (large insects) a no.3 (medium) and a no. 1 or 2 for small insects. These are obtainable from the Transvaal Museum Shop.

Steels\minutens
These are minute headless pins used for small insects like mosquitos and midgets.

Polyporous pith
Used for staging small insects mounted on minutens. Usually purchased in strips which may be cut to size.

Points, cards, glue
A small card or card triangle on which to mount small insects may also be used. Use a soluble glue to stick the insects to the card or onto the bent point of a card triangle.

Setting board
A setting board is used to hold the wings in position while the insects are drying. A simple board can be made from polystyrene foam, cork or wood. Grooves are cut in the board to house the body of insects. Because it is best to have the walls of the groove close to the body to support the wings, grooves should be a few different widths. A good size for the board is about 30 x 25 x 5 cm with grooves ranging between 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm. The setting board should be kept in a cardboard box with a lid, containing some naphthalene, to prevent damage by other live insects.4.6 A pinning block allows insects and labels to be positioned at standard heights on the pin. The cheapest and easiest way to make the block is to use wood. It can either be a solid block with holes drilled to different depths or a set of pinning steps with a hole drilled through each level. 4.7 Large collections are kept in glass-topped drawers in cabinets, but this can be very expensive. Temporary wooden boxes with lids and bottoms made from polystyrene foam or cork are a good alternative. The box should be airtight, to keep the fumes of any repellant in, and to keep pest insects out.