INSECT COLLECTION ASSIGNMENT
Insects are invertebrates with three pairs of legs, usually two pairs of wings, one pair of antenna, jointed
appendages, and three distinct body regions --- head, thorax, & abdomen. Insects belong to the largest
phylum of animals known as arthropods. Many small arthropods are mistaken for insects such as spiders, ticks,
millipedes, & centipedes. Do NOT COLLECT these specimens. They will not be counted towards your project.
Although some insects may sting or bite, insects play an important role in nature as a food source for other
animals and as plant pollinators.
By doing an insect collection, you can not only learn beneficial and harmful insects common to your area,
but you will also learn structural modifications of various insects that have enabled them to survive & become
such a successful and diverse group of animals.. You will also learn to use taxonomic keys to identify
organisms.
In order to properly do an insect collection, several techniques must be learned, including how to correctly
collect, kill, pin, spread, label, and display your organisms.
Materials needed for collecting:
 insect net
 several kill jars with killing agent (nail polish remover works)/ freezer
 pencil
 tweezers
 several clean baby food jars (these will be holding jars) or plastic baggies
Requirements:
Insects are found almost everywhere so look for them on plants, in water, in soil, under rocks, in rotten logs,
around lights at night, etc. Your collection will consist of at least 12 insects. Collect only adults in perfect
condition to receive credit. As you collect insects, be sure to record the name of the insect or a good
description, the date collected, and the place each insect was collected. Use different kill jars for butterflies
and beetles and never put too many insects in the same kill jar. As a general rule, do NOT collect stinging
insects unless you are comfortable handling them and KNOW that you are not allergic to any stings. Butterflies,
moths, and insects with fragile wings should always be placed in the freezer until ready to pin. Please tell all
family members about insects in the freezer!
The following orders should be represented in your collection
 Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths)
 Coleoptera (beetles)
 Diptera (flies & mosquitoes)
 Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets,…)
 Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps)
 Hemiptera (true bugs)
Displaying insects:
Remember that your insect collection will not be returned to you, so do not build an expensive case. Sturdy
cases can be made out of shoeboxes, regular cardboard boxes with lids, etc…
1. Cases should be no more than 35 by 55 cm in size. All cases must be sturdy with a lid that can be easily
opened for grading. Remember that the cases will be stacked when you turn them in to me!
2. If the collection has a clear lid, it must be made of plastic and not glass.
3. Place a sheet of Styrofoam in the bottom of your case.
4. Make a label from an unlined index card for the center of your case. This label should contain your full
name, subject, class period, date the collection was turned in to the teacher, number of orders, and
number of insects in your collection. Use straight pins to attach this center card to the Styrofoam.
5. Cut several small pieces of index card for order labels, and use a black ink pen to write the name of
each order you have in your collection on these. Printing labels and affixing them to index cards are
also acceptable.
6. Arrange insects in the case by order and in rows by descending size (largest to smallest). Use straight
pins to attach the correct order label to the Styrofoam at the top of each row.
7. Spread out the orders and insects so there are no empty spots in your case.
8. Make sure that all pinned insects are facing the front of your case!
9. Make sure all identification and collector labels on pins are
readable form the right side of the case!!
Writing insect labels:
1. Each insect will have 2 labels on the pin below the insect’s body. The top label will be the identification
label and the bottom label is the location & collector label.
2. The identification label is the top label on the pin below the insect’s body. It should have the scientific
name (genus & species) of the insect on the top line, then the common name of the insect, and the
insect’s order on the bottom line. Remember to capitalize the genus & order and to underline the
scientific name!
Musca domestica
Housefly
Diptera
3. The location label goes in the same direction on the bottom of the insect pin. The location the insect
was collected should be written on the top line, then the date the insect was collected, and the name
of the collector on the bottom line. If the collector has a long name, you may write their first initial and
their last name.
Glendora, Ca.
22-Oct-13
J. Smith
Note that the second line has the format of day first, month abbreviated, and year last. Please keep this in mind
when printing or writing labels.
4. Be sure there is enough room between labels so that both can be read.
5. Labels should be placed on the pin parallel to the body of a pinned insect or parallel to the point if the
insect is card pointed. Be sure that all labels are readable from the right side when the insect’s head is
pointing away from you!!!!
Summary Requirements:
A collection of 12 perfect adult insects, correctly mounted, labeled, and displayed in a case, representing 6
different orders. Refer to the top for specific, required taxonomic orders.
Due Date: