88 Procedure for collecting pests Introduction: Proper management of insect pests and prevention of loss due to pest infestation requires clear knowledge about the taxonomy and biology of the pest insects. Taxonomy of any insect requires collection, preservation and identification which may be different for different type of insects around us depending on the size, body structure, habitat, food habit, foraging habit etc, ofthe insect Collection : There are quite a few collection methods and instruments that are used to collect different type of pest insects. We will discuss some general procedures for collecting land, aquatic and areal Sweep Net :Ahandheld net with a round loop, an extendable handle and a soft cloth net, This type of net is used to trap areal insects with active sweeping through air. This net can be used to catch beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), Grasshoppers (Orthoptera) ete. Aspirator : Aspirator is a small instrument with a suction tube and a collecting bottle used for collection of'small and soft bodies insects, Aspirators may be used to collect small beetles (Coleoptera), Ants (Hymenoptera), Mites (Acari) etc Light Trap : Most crepuscular and noctumal insects are attracted to light. Light trap with incandescent light or UV light may attract several pest insects. A ray or beaker filled with water may be kept under the light to trap the attracted insects. Kerosene could be added to the water to prevent escape of the insects. ight trap is very effective to trap plant-hoppers (Hemiptera), Moths (Lepidoptera) and other Noc- tural flying insects. Bait Traps : Bait traps are simple traps that can be used fora wide range of insects including stored grain pests. Baits can be variable depending on the food preference of the targeted pest. Apart from these, there are several other traps and instruments such as Malaise Trap, yellow pan trap ete. to trap different insect pests from different habitats. Other requirements for Insect Collection: |. Killing Jar—a glass jaris prepared using narcotising agents such as, Ethyl Acetate, Benzene vapour or chloroform 2. Tags for Collection, Location and Identification data, 3. Forceps, brush, insect pins, stretching bar, butter paper envelopes etc. Preservation: Collected insect specimens must be preserved properly to prevent wastage. Large specimens can be preserved dry in pinned condition and small delicate specimens can be wet-preserved in 70% ethanol Procedure for Dry Preservation: 1. Collected specimens are killed by putting in killing ja. 2. Collected specimens are pinned on stretching board using proper stainless insect pins and kept in desiccator to dry for 5-7 days. 3, Two small cards are attached with the same pin, one card containing the location data of the collected specimen (State, District, Locality, Latitude, Longitude, Date of collection, Name of the Collector); other card containing the identification data (Order : Scientific name with author and year). 4, Pinned specimens are stored in humidity free, insect storing box.89 Procedure for Wet Preservation : |, Small and soft bodied insects are to be preserved wet in alcohol, 2, Very small soft bodied insects are collected directly in 70% ethanol using aspirator, brush or forceps. ‘Small but hard bodied insects such as beetles are collected using sweep net or secific traps, narcotized using ethyl acetate or chloroform and then preserved in 70% ethyl acetate. Few drops of glycerol are added to the ethanol to prevent rapid evaporation. A tag is put inside the collection vial containing location and identification data. Tag should be prefer- ably written in rotring ink or pencil to prevent smudging in alcohol. Solutions for Students : 1. How to collect insects? Students who don’t have access to insect net may collect insects by hand-picking using} forceps or by brush soaked in alcohol 2. How to preserve Dry Specimens? a. Collected Insects can be pinned using insect needle or sonamukhi needle on the prothorax| (right elytra in case of Beetles) and dried under indirect sunlight or incandescent light. b. Properly dried specimens then can be transferred to a Paper box with foam/thermocol| bottom. 3, How to preserve Wet Specimens? Specimens for wet preservation can be preserved in small glass/plastic vials of 10-15 ml volume. Glass vials used for Homoeopathy medicine can be suitable.