9th Grade Insect Collection
Taxonomists collect and identify organisms worldwide. For this project you are a practicing entomologist on a mission to collect, classify, and present your findings. Good Luck !
A) Student Materials
1. Box to store and display collection. A shoe box or box slightly bigger
will work fine. Place a thick piece styrofoam (about one inch thick) in the bottom
of the box. All your Insects will be pinned into the styrofoam.
Examples can be seen in class.
2. Envelopes for butterflies and moths.
3. Rubbing alcohol (70%Isopropyl) and small glass vials (optional, for
soft-bodied adults and fragile specimens). See below for more information about
using rubbing alcohol to store and preserve insects.
B) Student Equipment
1. Nets can be checked out to the student by the teacher. Students are
responsible for the nets. Nets can be checked out after school and returned
before school starts the following morning. Do not leave nets
outside my door if I am not in my room. Wait and I will arrive shortly. If
students cannot follow these instructions he/she will not be able to check out
equipment again.
C) Collection Requirements and information
1. Students will collect 30 DIFFERENT
insects. I will not count duplicates or damaged insects.
No two insects can be of the same species. Students will not be given credit
for more that three Orthopterans.
2. Each insect will be mounted on a number 2 or 3 insect pin. Each insect must have its own locality label. Labels must be done properly to receive full credit.
Example
Utah, Utah Co.
Provo Canyon
10-12- 96 B.H. Smith
3. Student may pick up their insect pins before school starts (bring small
container with lid).
4. Each student will have two of their 30 insects spread (Lepidoptera or Odonata
etc.). I have spread boards students can use before or after school.
5. All students must collect at least one insect in each of the following
insect orders. Students will not be given credit for more that three Orthopterans.
1. Hemiptera 6. Odonata
2. Coleoptera 7. Homoptera
3. Lepidoptera 8. Orthoptera
4. Diptera 9. Neuroptera
5. Hymenoptera 10. Dermaptera
6. Break down of collections points
1. Thirty insects mounted on pin-----------------------------10 pts each 300
pts
2. Thirty insects mounted with a complete locality label------- 5 pts
each 150 pts
3. Each of the ten different Orders collected-----------------10 pts each
100 pts
4. Two insects spread-------------------------------------- 10 pts each 20
pts
5. Organization, insects grouped by order-------------------------------
50 pts
620pt.
7. Collection points will be placed into a percent (620 pts =100%) and multiplied by 10 for a total of 1000 pts.
D) Classification and Identification
1. Along with collecting insects, students will identify and put various arthropods in like groups. Each student will learn how a taxonomist identifies the various insect orders and families below.
ORDER
FAMILY
1. Orthoptera-------------------- Acrididae, Mantidae, Gryllidae
2. Coleoptera-------------------- Scarabaeidae, Carabidae, Cerambycidae, Cicindelidae,Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae
3. Lepidoptera------------------- Papilionidae,
Nymphalidae, Sphingidae
4. Diptera------------------------- Bombyliidae,
Asilidae, Syrphidae, Tabanidae
5. Hymenoptera------------------ Apidae, Vespidae, Sphecidae
6. Hemiptera--------------------- Scutelleridae,
Reduviidae, Pentatomidae
7. Neuroptera--------------------- Raphidiidae, Chrysopidae, Myrmeleontidae
8. Odonata------------------------ Libellulidae, Aeshnidae, Gomphidae
9. Homoptera--------------------- Cercopidae, Cicadellidae, Cicadidae, Membracidae
10. Dermaptera------------------- Forficulidae
E) Student Success
Procrastination will be your worst enemy when working on biology
projects. Start the first day you come home with this handout. I will have
before and after school pinning sessions to help you be successful. If you
wait to start your collection I cannot help you adequately. When working in
any lab always be careful using chemicals and equipment, always follow instructions.
As you collect, I want you to store your insects in either or both of the following
two ways. Discuss these methods with your parents and decide which one
will work best for you.
First, most insects can be preserved in clear rubbing alcohol (70% Isopropyl). Get permission to use rubbing alcohol from your parents before you start. Place a locality label (use pencil) in each bottle you store insects. Write your label in pencil not ink (will wash away or bleed into the alcohol). This way you will know where and when you collected the insects. USE only one bottle for each location you collect. Do not put insects you collected in Orem on Sept. 2 with insects in a bottle you collected up Rock Canyon on Aug. 31. To properly store or preserve your insects they must be completely submerged in the alcohol. When you want to pin the insects you will remove them from the alcohol and pin them.
* Butterflies moths and bees as well as insects that are green (lacewing, katydid) do not store well (change color etc.) in alcohol.
Second, you can kill and store your insects in the freezer (check with mom first) After collecting insects, put them in a small container and place it in the freezer until you are ready to pin the insects. Small plastic jars work great. Always remember to put a locality tag in each bottle or container you place insects in. No alcohol or water is needed. You might want to softly pack some tissue paper into the bottle with the insects before you place it into the freezer. This keeps them from damaging each other. The insects will stay in the freezer until it is time to pin them. If you take them out and not pin them they will dry and brake when you attempt to mount them on the pin.
* If you put insects in a plastic bag the insects will not be protected and will brake.
F) Spreading Insects
Insects that will spread easily (Butterflies, moths, dragonflies) should be placed in an envelope with their wings together above the body and placed in the freezer (you can put these organisms in alcohol but they will be harder to pin). Put the envelope in the freezer with the locality information on the outside of the envelope. After school pinning sessions will be held to help those who want assistance. Pinning boards are in high demand as we get closer to the collection due date. Please do not procrastinate.
Good luck,
Mr. Glassford