4-H CLUB

ENTOMOLÇCY

LEADERS'

MANUAL

Agriculture Handbook No. 106

FEDERAL EXTENSION SERVICE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SEPTEMBER 1956

B :\
A Note to Leaders

This guide has been written for you as a leader of 4-H Club members who are carrying on entomology activities. It was prepared at the request of extension workers and local leaders like yourself all over the

country. We hope it will prove helpful and stimulating to you and your

4-H members.

Currently, more than 32,000 boys and girls are enrolled in 4-H Club

entomology projects. Many times that number carry out approved entomology practices as a part of other activities. In fact, our entomologists

say that there is scarcely any agricultural or home economics field in

which insects do not play a part.

The broad objective of this program is to help develop in all 4—H Club

boys and girls a greater appreciation of the importance of insects to

mankind.

That is a big order—but we believe it can be accomplished with your

inspiration and guidance. Your local extension agents. State specialists,

and others stand ready to help you. They have other bulletins designed

to suit the particular needs of your area. They will also help you and

your 4—H Club members plan interesting, helpful programs adapted to

your local situation.

The committee of State and Federal extension workers who wrote this

manual had one primary goal in mind—helping you to help your 4—H

Club members to "make the best better."

May your efforts be crowned with rich success.

C. M. FERGUSON,

Administrator, Federal Extension Service,

United States Department of Agriculture.

Object!ives

The purpose of this program is to help the 4—H Club boys and girls achieve

the following:

1. Develop leadership and help achieve the broad 4—H objectives of

character and effective citizenship.

2. Learn about insect life and the relation of insects to the health, wealth,

and happiness of man.

3. Learn to recognize the major insect pests and beneficial insects common

to the area where the club member lives.

4. Understand the fundamentals of insect control by carrying on some

control practice.

5. Learn about insecticides: the kinds, their specific uses, and safety practices to follow.

6. Support community projects and activities relating to insect control.
Contents

Page

Opportunities for the leader , o

Suggested kit of references for leaders 3

Why study insects? t

What is an insect? c

Guideposts for 4-H Club leaders í

Your place in the 4-H Club entomology program 5

More leaders may be needed, too A

Helps available í

How to organize to get the job done 7

The youth you lead g

How can we apply some of these facts? g

Teaching methods and aids 10

Demonstrations •\Q

Discussions •( 0

Games •( 1

Contests , -j •(

Playlets -j 1

Tours and field trips \-\

Collections -12

Exhibits -12

Life history studies "12

Insect control studies 13

Surveys 13

Films and slides 13

Subject-matter suggestions for club meetings 14

Keeping records 15

Awards 1 5

County 15

State 15

National 15

Informing the public 16

Evaluating the results of your work 17

Prepared by a committee composed of M. P. Jones, extension entomologist, and George

Foster, formerly associate leader, 4-H and YMW Programs, Federal Extension Service, United

States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C; Glen E. Lehker extension entomologist,

Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.; Patricia Ann Kelley, assistant State 4-H Club leader,

Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Pa.; and J. 0. Rowell, extension entomologist,

Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va., chairman.
4-H CLUB ENTOMOLOGY

LEADERS' MANUAL

Opportunities for the Leader

Local leaders have done an excellent job of

encouraging 4^H Club members to learn about

insects. Club members are informed of the fascination associated with the study of this important group in the animal kingdom. The great

variety of insects and the different kinds of life

habits they possess afford endless opportunities

for exploration into the insect world.

Collecting, preserving, mounting, and assembling insects in collection boxes appeal to children and adults. They will be amazed to know

that there are possibly a million kinds of insects

which live under a wide range of conditions as

to hot and cold, wet and dry, light and dark.

Club members will be surprised when you can

explain how some insects, like grasshoppers and

caterpillars, chew their food with specially developed mouth parts and how some, like mosquitoes and Stinkbugs, suck their food through

needlelike mouth parts. By careful observation

you can locate and point out how insects feed

upon other insects. This will afford opportunity

to relate how some insects are beneficial and how

others are harmful. You can teach them how

to control the harmful ones and how to protect

the useful ones. You will arouse curiosity when

you point out the rows of spots along each side of

the body of a large caterpillar or grasshopper,

for example. These indicate the openings to

the breathing pores. Breathing pores (spiracles) serve the same purpose as your nose.

-S^:¿i - - täitscsia - ú«*á.¿^

Figure 1. Leader helps member with insect collection.

Leaders can assist club members in making

and displaying collections and mounts of insects

showing life stages and damage. They can

assist the members also in working up material

for use in giving demonstrations. Entomology

club members should be encouraged to select an

insect and make a study of it. Then at a later
club meeting, some of the members might be

called on to give a report of all the interesting

things they learned about the insect.

Junior leaders and older club members will

delight in helping those younger than themselves

to carry out the various activities relating to

insects. Leaders can point out to older members some of the many ways that they can assist

junior members.

Leaders and members will be pleased to find

a rich source of material right in their own

homes. Nearly all newspapers, farm and other

magazines carry stories about insects. Encyclopedias and science books include references

to insects. Bulletins that will give information

about most of the important insects common to

your area may be obtained from your county extension office. Even color slides and motion

pictures are sometimes available.

Local leaders need not be disturbed because

they cannot name all the insects collected by their

club members. Not even a trained entomologist

can do this. Members should continue to collect

and learn about many kinds of insects, even

though they cannot identify all of them. County

agents and State, Federal, and commercial entomologists will find time to assist your club

members to identify the insects they collect.

If club leaders can learn to recognize, learn

the life habits and the control for a dozen or

more common insects, and impart this information to club members, they have made an important contribution. Everyone concerned

should realize that an entomology project is not

intended primarily to develop entomologists.

Rather, the project is part of a plan to help

develop a citizenry with a greater appreciation

for insects and their importance to man.

Sussested Kit of References for

4-H Club Entomology Leaders

1. State project outlines and record

books.

2. Supplemental State entomology

publications, such as insect-control bulletins, 4-H procedure

guides, and project leaders'

manuals, ii any.

3. USDA Agriculture Handbook

No. 65,4-H Club Insect Manual

(Formerly Miscellaneous Publication No. 318).

4. See selected references in this

manual for other reference

material.

Braconid Wasp

JÀiX.,

Honeybee

Cabbage Butterfly
Why Study Insects?

There are more kinds of insects in the world

than all other animals combined. At present,

approximately three-fourths of a million different species of insects are known. Many more

species are yet to be found and described. Insects are man's greatest competitor for domination of the earth.

All crops and livestock and the products derived from them are subject to attack by insects.

The annual loss from insects amounts to several

billion dollars for the United States alone. It is

difficult to comprehend the extent of damage and

monetary loss occasioned by insects on a worldwide scale. These great losses do not take into

account the discomfort and the suffering brought

upon the people by direct attacks of insects and

by the cost of medical care and labor lost resulting from the diseases spread by them. Insects

also kill our animals, destroy our crops and

stored products, crumble our buildings, and

actually feed on man himself. Certain of the

diseases carried only by insects have caused more

human deaths than all the wars since the dawn

of history. Certain insects transmit important

diseases of plants and livestock.

It would be unfair, however, to think of all

insects as pests. Most kinds are of no importance. Many are useful to man. Ladybeetles,

ground beetles, wasps, and certain flies are beneficial, because they destroy harmful insects.

Honeybees, for example, provide us with honey

and beeswax. They and other insects are important natural agents of cross-pollination of

many kinds of food plants. Some insects are

valuable soil builders because they hasten decay

of woody plants, improve soil aeration, and improve tilth. The world of insects provides food

for birds, fishes, and other forms of animal life.

Secretions of several species of insects are used

in the manufacture of medical drugs, dyes, and

paints. In some countries insects are used as

food for man.

The economic aspect should not be the only

basis for our study of insects. They are of great

significance because of their aesthetic value to

man. Many people go through life knowing

little about the wonders and beauties of nature

and finding little enjoyment in them. We realize a fuller life as we learn more about our

natural surroundings. We could profit much

by turning to nature's fascinating creatures, the

insects, which had their origin many millions

of years ago. This is in evidence by insects

found in fossils and amber.

The marvel of insects has been the origin of

legends and superstitions down through the ages.

Idols were built in the likeness of the sacred

(scarab) beetle which was worshiped by the

ancient Egyptians. In Biblical times crop destruction by the hordes of locusts (grasshoppers)

resulted in famines. Insects, such as the deathwatch beetle, have been given common names

in keeping with the superstition they created in

the minds of the people.

Insects have been the inspiration for designers

of airplanes, locomotives, automobiles, children's toys, costume jewelry, wallpaper, draperies, lamp shades, and innumerable other items.

Learning about the insects and being able to

share this knowledge with others is a source of

satisfaction and enjoyment.
What Is an Insect? '.«^

All objects upon this earth of ours can be divided into living and nonliving things, such as

trees and cows on the one hand and rocks and

water on the other. Living things are either

plants or animals, and we call these two great

groups kingdoms. Insects belong to the animal

kingdom.

Everyone knows there are many kinds of

animals. We need but close our eyes to think

of everything from fishing worms to elephants.

As a leader of an entomology club, you yourself

will want to know just where insects fit into this

teeming mass of animal life. Animals, like

many other things, are classified simply by dividing them first into large groups having similar

characteristics, and then by subdividing each

group into smaller and smaller groups until there

are no longer any differences in structure upon

which further divisions can be made.

Some Relatives of Insects

All in class

Aracfinida

Tick

Millipedes

Crustacea

Three different classes

Centipedes

Insects are members of the largest group

(arthropods) in the animal kingdom. This

group contains not only insects, but also spiders,

mites, ticks, scorpions, daddy-long-legs, centipedes, millipedes, sowbugs, crabs, crayfish, and

lobsters. All these animals are grouped together

because they have outside skeletons, segmental

bodies, and jointed appendages. Grasshoppers

and crayfish are somewhat alike in structure.

To further divide the large group (arthropods), the next step is to separate the insects from

their many relatives. The arthropods are divided into many classes. The insects belong to

one of these classes. Insects differ from all other

arthropods by having 3 body regions (head,

thorax, and abdomen), 3 pairs of legs, and

usually 2 pairs of wings in the adult stage.

On this page are some of the animals that may

be mistaken for insects. They belong to other

classes and are insects' closest relatives. The

mites, spiders, and ticks all have 2 body regions

and 4 pairs of legs. Centipedes have 1 pair of

legs on each body segment; the millipedes have

2 pairs on each body segment; whereas the

Crustacea have a total of from 5 to 7 pairs.

Most people refer to insects by a common

name. The common name may apply to an

insect species like the housefly, or to a group of

insects, such as grasshoppers, for example. Even

though common names are very important, they

vary widely from one locality to another. For

these reasons, scientific names are necessary, especially for entomologists.
Guideposts for 4-H Club Leader

Your Place in the 4-H Club Entomology

Program

You are a 4—H Club local volunteer leader.

There are few undertakings more challenging.

Whether your members are taking entomology

along with other projects or specializing in this

area alone, the horizons are unlimited. As is

true with all phases of 4-H Club work, this program is under the general direction of your

county extension agents. Therefore, the functioning of your local 4-H Club program should

be in keeping with the general policies and procedures guiding the county extension program.

As the leader, you are the key person in your

local 4—H Club. The success or failure of your

entomology program depends a lot on your interest and initiative, but the whole load should

not rest on your shoulders. Your job is to help

your club members plan and carry out a program based on their needs, interests, and abilities. That is a big job, of course. The best

leaders, however, are those who recognize their

strengths and weaknesses—and do something

about them. This manual properly used can

help you to become a better entomology leader.

More Leaders May Be Needed, Too

When we properly "team up" young, inquiring minds and the exciting, varied field of entomology, the growth potential is practically

A Tribute to the Local Leader

You plant and more gardens nourish

Than ever your hands can tend;

You call, and more socks ore mended

Than your needles could ever mend.

You lead, and there follows after

A power that you cannot know;

For the ones you teach shall climb out of

reach.

When the seeds you are planting grow.

limitless. So, we see the need for more leaders

and assistant leaders.

Where can we get additional leaders for our

entomology program?

a. Look about your area for other adults

who might serve as leaders. Local

beekeepers, teachers, insecticide dealers,

and garden supply dealers are "naturals." Actually any interested parent

or other adult who is willing to take

special leadership training and give

some time can be helpful.

b. Older 4^H entomology members or former entomology members may serve as

junior leaders for younger 4—H'ers.

c. College students in entomology or biology may be interested and willing to help

during the summer months.

Successful expansion of your entomology program consists of seeing opportunities for helping

our young people and providing leadership to

show the way.

Helps Available

No 4-H Club leader need go his way alone.

There are many sources of help in connection

with your entomology program. Your local extension agents can provide you with literature,

training aids, and other assistance as needed.

They have all the resources of your State land-
grant college and the United States Department

of Agriculture at their disposal. In addition

many friends of 4-H in commercial concerns and

other organizations can provide help in your entomology work through your extension agents.

Trained entomologists are frequently located in

the community. These include entomologists in

local colleges, at branch experiment stations,

with pest-control operators, and the field representatives of insecticide companies.

Magazines, newspapers, radio, and television

are sources of information.

Your greatest asset is your own ingenuity.

You are not expected to know it all. Help is

available if you seek it.

How To Organize To Get

the Job Done

The 4-H Club entomology program can be

adapted to many types of club organization.

You will want to consider the pattern being followed in your county and State. The problems

apparent in your community may call for special

attention. The following suggestions are to give

you a picture of different ways of doing the job.

You and the extension agents may want to consider these in your planning:

a. The community 4-H Club is one in which

members enroll in a variety of projects.

This necessitates giving project instruction along a number of lines during the

year. Therefore, the time devoted to

one project in regular meetings may be

limited.

Figure 2. Entomology project members and their leader.

However, many such clubs have special

leaders for the different projects. For

example, a leader working with the members enrolled in entomology may hold

special training meetings. Often members of other clubs nearby with a special

interest in entomology are involved on a

community, district, or even a county

basis.

b. Entomology project 4-H Clubs are organized much the same as the community

club except that all members are enrolled in the entomology project.

c. Countywide project groups.—Members

expressing interest in entomology, for

example, come together in a central area

in the county. Regular meetings are

held with programs built around entomology. The number of meetings

held during the year varies from place to

place and from monthly to quarterly.

This approach may be used to supplement

either of the local club approaches discussed earlier.

There are other ways of organizing your entomology program for greater effectiveness.

Some examples include:

d. Programs designed for different age

groups enable you to gear the program

and teaching methods to the special interests of each group. (See p. 8 for

suggestions).

e. Relating entomology to other 4-H Club

projects and activities.—The entomology

project is designed to fit in with and supplement other projects and activities.

The construction of insect collecting

equipment and display boxes can be used

toward the requirements of handicraft or

other projects. 4-H members enrolled

in the garden project need to know how

to identify the common garden insects

and how to control them.

Members who have projects in dairying and livestock know the importance of

controlling flies, lice, cattle grubs, and

other insects that attack farm animals.

Many insects also need to be controlled
in connection with the production of forage and grain crops to feed these animals.

The insects we find in and around our

homes are of particular importance.

Many, such as termites, attack the

foundations of our homes. Others chew

holes in our clothing, carpets, and furniture. Insects get into our stored food

and make it worthless. The housefly and

the mosquito not only disturb our rest

and relaxation, but carry organisms

which cause diseases of human beings.

Flowers, lawns, and ornamental plants

are attacked by many insects and related

pests. Members enrolled in the home

grounds projects also need to know how

to control these pests by sanitation, removing breeding areas, or by the use of

insecticides.

There are many other projects which

entomology can round out and help.

The Youth You Lead

The first objective of our entomology program

is to help boys and girls develop leadership,

character, and effective citizenship. This increases the importance of the entomology program. It improves people as well as their

environment.

Like other good 4^H leaders, you no doubt

want to understand boys and girls better. Why

do they behave as they do, and why is one so

different in behavior from another? Boys and

girls themselves do not usually understand the

physical and mental changes going on within

them. Even as adults, we seldom know why we

"tick" the way we do. Gradually, however, scientists and parents are learning more and more

about the similarities and differences in behavior of children of the same age. If you acquire this kind of understanding, it will help you

adjust your entomology activities to the needs of

young people, as they work to become happy,

successful adults.

Research suggests some general principles that

help us understand youth better. Each person

moves through common stages of growing up. He

goes through the same growth sequences as other

persons—but not always at the same age. Each

one tackles the growing-up jobs at his own time

in his own way. Therefore, we should remember

that a knowledge of these general sequences is

simply background information, to be adapted to

fit the many individual differences in the boys

and girls with whom we work. Otherwise we

may tend to make all club members fit a preconceived idea of what all 10-year-olds or 15-yearolds are said to be like.

How Can We Apply Some of These Facts?

a. Working with 10- to 13-Year-Olds.

With this age group you have the

problem of setting a pace that will enable

members to do efficient work without strain.

Since the interest span of younger

members is brief, try to guide them to select

short-term projects. Some examples:

Undertake the control of one kind of

insect:

Control grubs on one cow.

Dust poultry for lice.

Store family blankets properly to

prevent clothes-moth damage.

Spray shrubs around home for control of pests.

Collect and mount 10 insects.

You can plan many club activities in

which all members may take part. Some

examples:

Make simple equipment for use in

entomology project—collecting

net, collecting box (cigar box),

insect killing jar.

Take field trip to observe and collect

insects.

Ask each member to give a simple

method demonstration on some

phase of entomology.

Take a tour to members' homes to

view each other's projects.

Assist with community fly-control

program or other insect-control

programs.
Figure 3. Public demonstration

(Virginia).

Remembering that these youngsters are

still in the "play stage," encourage them

to make a game out of learning. Members may—

Answer rollcall by naming an insect.

See who can collect the most insects

in a given period of time.

Have an identification contest of a

few common insects.

Have a contest on answering elementary questions about insects.

Working With Teen-Agers

In dealing with older 4^H members, remember their new independence of thought

and their desire to express themselves.

Ask them to help with the planning of an

entomology program that will meet their

needs and desires.

Recognize their improved abilities and

energies by encouraging them to undertake

more difficult projects. Some examples:

Conduct a life history study of at least

one insect: Housefly, ladybeetle,

cabbage butterfly, or a pantry pest.

Collect and mount a specified number

of insects of economic importance.

Conduct surveys:

Time of first appearance of some

important insect.

Determine extent of damage by an

insect pest.

Carry out approved entomology practice in connection with at least one

other 4—H project or activity.

Encourage their growing creative ability

by suggesting that members:

Arrange their insect collections in an

appealing manner in relation to

color and balance.

Take part in group projects, such as

organizing and conducting fly, mosquito, and rodent control as an overall community health program.

Exhibit products of the entomology

project—collections, mounts of

life history, control projects—at

local fairs, at 4—H events, and in

local store and bank windows.

Encourage club members to develop

good judgment.

Entomology provides an opportunity to

exercise wise choices. They might:

Determine the population of designated insects by actual count or

"sweeping" to tell when to apply

insecticides.

Conduct a public demonstration on

entomology.

Apply an insecticide and adjust

sprayers.

Employ safety aspects in storing, handling, and using insecticides.
Teaching Methods and Aids

"If the student doesn't learn, the teacher

doesn't teach." The progress that 4^H members make in the entomology project depends

largely on the teaching methods you employ.

Many methods are used in connection with the

4-H entomology project. Descriptions of some

of the most commonly used methods and teaching aids follow.

Demonstrations

A demonstration is simply showing and telling

how to do something. Have you ever shown anyone how to milk a cow, how to set out a plant,

how to start an automobile? If you have, then

you have given a demonstration. A demonstration is showing by doing. Why demonstrate?

Demonstration develops the ability to impart

knowledge to others. It helps the club member

to develop poise, initiative, and originality.

Demonstration is also the best known technique

for sharing with others what we have learned.

a. Individual demonstrations should be a

part of every club meeting. Each club

member should have an opportunity to

show and tell how to do some phase of

the subject being studied.

b. Team demonstrations should be used to

handle the subjects that are too difficult

for an individual to handle. Clubs

should select their best individual and

team demonstrations and have these

repeated later at achievement banquets,

county fairs, parents' night programs,

meetings of civic clubs, and other such

occasions.

In selecting the subject for the demonstration,

cover only one main theme or idea. Select subjects that apply to entomology problems in your

community or county. Examples of themes

that might be used are: Roach control, ant control, or garden insect control. The opportunity

for individual demonstrations is virtually unlimited. The following is an example which

may offer suggestions for other individual

demonstrations:

EXAMPLE:

Subject:

Equipment:

Introduction:

CONTROL CLOTHES MOTHS IN

WOOLEN CLOTHES

Woolen suit on hanger, clothesbrush, plastic clothesbag, insect-tight storage box or

drawer, PDB crystals, mothballs, old newspaper, EQ-53.

Clothes moths present in most

areas.

Damage can be severe.

Loss in money, time, etc.

Clean and protected clothes not

likely to be damaged.

How to control clothes moths—

sunning, brushing, tight storage, mothballs, PDB crystals,

EQ-53, or 5-percent DDT oil

spray.

Show how to use these.

Clothes moths do not like clean

woolens, sunlight, or chemicals. Therefore, keep woolens

clean, treat with EQ-53 or other

materials and store in insecttight containers.

For information on team demonstrations, see

pages 61 to 63, Agriculture Handbook No. 65,

4-H Club Insect Manual.

Discussions

Club discussions are a means of crystallizing

thought on a subject. There are several types of

discussion which might be used, depending upon

the size of the group, opportunity for advance

preparation, and other factors. One of the most

popular is the agree-disagree questions which relate directly to some of the problems in your

community. Put them on the board or on sepMethodsand

materials to

be u^ed:

Summary:

10
arate sheets of paper. Your list may include

such statements or questions, for example, as:

a. Entomology has a bearing on most 4-H

Club projects.

b. Entomology is the study of insects,

spiders, and centipedes.

c. Do our entomology problems have an

effect on our city neighbors and if so,

how?

d. Are there insect problems with livestock

in this community?

e. Is the health of our people affected by

insects?

f. Are there beneficial insects? If so, list

them, and tell why.

g. Many others.

Games

Games add much spice to the entomology

project, and those used in other activities can

often be adapted for this use.

Contests

Contests are games, and the following may

serve as a sample: (The correct answers are

given to guide leaders. )

CONTEST QUIZ—MAKE AS MANY MARKS (X) AS

NECESSARY TO ANSWER QUESTION

a. Cricket: If you were a Jiminy cricket singing at Grand Ole Opry, you would sing with:

your mouth ( ) ; your sides ( ) ; rubbing spurs

on legs on wing edge (X).

b. Chigger: If you were a chigger (redbug)

on your 4—H Club agent, you would make him

swell up by: sticking your beak in him (X);

kicking him ( ) ; stinging him ( ).

c. Wood tick: A tick lays its eggs on: an

animal ( ); groimd (X); bush ( ).

d. Spider: Large garden spiders found in

cottonfields: eat each other ( ) ; eat cotton bolls

( ) ; eat insects (X).

e. Mud dauber: I am a "Mud Dobber"; I use

my house to: store honey ( ) ; store spiders (X) ;

to hide in when it rains ( ) ; rear young (X).

f. Ant: If a man can lift 2 times his own

weight, an "ant" can lift 10 times (X) ; 20 times

( ) ; 100 times ( ) ; 200 times ( ) his weight.

g. Flea: I am a flea. When I hatched from

an egg I was: on Fido ( ) ; in the dirt under the

house (X).

h. Termite: The termite that does all the

damage has eyes like: an eagle ( ) ; an ant ( ) ;

afly ( ) ; no eyes (X).

i. Dragonfly: Eats mosquitos (X) ; doctors

snakes ( ) ; eats tadpoles ( ).

j. Mosgwiio: I am a mosquito. I want to give

you spring fever and chills. When I bite you,

I stand on my head iX) ; lie down ( ) ; sit down

( ).

k. June bug: A "June bug" (May beetle)

spends: 3 months ( ); 6 months ( ); 1 year

(X) ; 3 years (X) ; 6 years ( ) in the ground as

a "grub worm."

1. Tadpole: I am a tadpole. I turn into: a

fish ( );asnake( ); mud puppy ( );frog(X).

m. Snake: If you met a snake in the woods, he

might: sting you with his tail ( ) ; grab his tail

and roll away ( ) ; run and hide (X) ; bite you

(X).

n. Honeybee: I am a honeybee. To collect a

pound of honey, I would have to travel a distance

equal to: ^o t ^ (X) ; IV2 times ( ) ; 3 times

( ) ; 6 times ( ) around the world.

Playlets

Playlets may be used to make the entomology

project interesting. Your State project book

may include some representative playlets. Two

such playlets are available from the extension

entomologist. Federal Extension Service, United

States Department of Agriculture, Washington

25, D. C. They are listed among the selected

references in this manual.

Tours and Field Trips

Visit 4^H Club projects where successful insect-control measures have been followed. It

would also be well to visit some projects where

no control methods have been used to see the

contrast between poor and good practices

A field trip may be taken alone or with UIü'-üwho are not necessarily club members. However, if it is to count as a field or observing trip,

the club member should go primarily to study

some phase of entomology.

Collecting trips may be made to gardens, orchards, fields, ponds, streams, or nearby parks.

Visit areas where there are large infestations

of destructive insects. Have the members count

n
Figure 4. Members discussing rearing jars and display cases.

numbers of insects per square foot, on each

branch, or have them estimate the damage or the

potential damage.

Organize contests in the field between members, teams, or clubs. Have the teams collect a

number of items, such as one aquatic insect, one

gall, one sample of bark beetle damage, one termite, one ant, one fly. The team that collects

all the items first and labels them correctly wins.

Try to have club members prepare a report

of the field trip as soon as possible after the trip

is made or before the next meeting.

Visit the local library and have club members

look at insect books. There are a great number

of books on insects. Some libraries have 200

or more.

Collections

Collections are a valuable part of the project.

They help acquaint members with the names of

insects and provide excellent exhibit material.

Collections usually consist of the adult forms of

insects. However, the larval forms may be included after being properly preserved in 70 percent alcohol and sealed in a vial. Adult forms

are usually mounted on regular insect pins.

Common straight pins are not recommended,

but they may suffice temporarily for beginners.

Cigar boxes are suitable for beginners, but older

club members will prefer larger display boxes

with glass tops. A collection box with outside

12

dimensions of 24 by 18 inches and 3 inches deep

is often used. Your State project book may have

other suggestions about kinds of boxes and also

about the number and kinds of insects to collect.

Exhibits

Exhibits give members an opportunity to

show their accomplishments and to keep the

public informed about their work. The exhibits

may be displayed at fairs, in store windows, at

school, in community houses, and in other places.

Models, collections, photographs, and samples

of insect-damaged plants and similar items are

all excellent aids for successful exhibits.

Life History Studies

For this part of the entomology project or

activity, select one or several insects common in

the community. Observe the changes in the

form, structure, and habits of the insects as they

pass through their various life stages. Younger

members will be fascinated by watching a moth

emerge from a cocoon. Older 4-H members,

with more experience and training in entomology,

might be interested in watching insects lay eggs,

watching the eggs hatch into tiny larvae or

nymphs, then noting the changes in color and

form as the insect grows to the adult stage. Notes

can be made on all ol)servations including the

number of days spent in the various stages, kind

of food, if anv, taken in each stage, number of
eggs laid by the adult, and where the winter is

spent.

It will be desirable to select insects that can

be caged for study and that have short life cycles,

so that the work can be completed during one

season. Examples of insects to use are houseflies, blowflies, cabbage butterflies, Mexican bean

beetles (where they occur), squash bugs (Northern States), and Harlequin bugs (Southern

States). Your county extension agent can suggest other insects that have short life cycles and

are suitable for use in life history studies.

Insect Control Studies

This phase of the 4—H Club entomology project has to do with individual or group activities

on the farm, in the home, and in the community.

Studies can be conducted on hundreds of different insect projects. Among excellent examples

are: Spraying or dusting cattle for lice or tick

control; treating poultry for lice control; spraying or dusting a particular field or garden crop

for insect control; construction of a flytrap;

spraying a barn, garbage rack, or poultry house

for fly control ; construction of insect-tight storage

boxes for prevention of clothes moth damage to

woolen blankets or furs; fumigation to control

stored-grain insects; and many more.

Control studies consist also of complete insectcontrol programs carried out seasonally as a part

of other 4-H Club projects, such as vegetable

gardening, baby beef production, home beautification, and poultry production.

Surveys

Surveys may serve several functions. The

simplest way is for members to examine some

plant to see how many kinds of insects are feeding on it, then make a record of what they find.

Surveys may be made in the spring of the year

to determine when a given insect pest first appears on a crop.

Surveys may be conducted by making sample

counts of the insect on a given number of plants

or a specified number of feet in a row crop. The

"sweeping method" of surveying is usually made

on crops such as alfalfa and peas. The number

of insects, such as plant lice or plant bugs, caught

in a collecting net during the sweeping is used

for timing the application of the insecticide." The

method used for making the survey will differ

from one area to another, depending on the kind

of insect involved and the crop. State project

outlines should be consulted for definite instructions on making a survey in your area.

Films and Slides

Movie films on entomology are distributed by

your State extension service and by several commercial organizations. County extension workers

can help you obtain appropriate films and

slides.

Figure 5. Collections, mounted specimens of damage, and killing jars.

13
Subject-Matter Suggestions for 4-H Club Meetings

The following outlines for club meetings are

merely suggestions of a possible method of presenting the entomology project to your club.

Your meeting to organize your club will be in

advance of the meetings outlined below. These

suggestions do not include the business or recreational phases of the meetings. They are in

no way intended to conflict with or replace procedures recommended in your State or county.

They are supplementary only.

1st Meeting

1. Open the meeting with a discussion of the

topic, Why Study Insects? (See p. 4 of this

manual.)

2. Relate this to the entomology project.

3. Pass out appropriate project materials to

club members.

4. Discuss the requirements of the project with

the members.

5. Have a brief discussion on how entomology

fits in with other projects.

6. Instruct members to assemble the materials

needed to make an insect killing jar. Have them

bring these materials to the next meeting. (See

Agr. Handb. 65, p. 8.) If possible, have each

member bring a live insect to the next meeting.

2d Meeting

1. Open the meeting with a demonstration on

how to make an insect killing jar. Explain why

carbon tetrachloride is the safest material for use

when killing insects.

2. Have members make their own killing jar

and kill the insect they brought with them.

3. Discuss the topic, What Is an Insect? (See

p. 5 of this manual.) Tell how insects differ

from other living creatures.

4. Show members the parts of an insect and

have them identify these parts on the insect they

brought with them.

5. Instruct members to bring to the next meeting the materials needed to construct an insect

spreading board.

6. Show a film on insects.

14

3d Meeting

1. Open the meeting with an entomology rollcall topic.

2. Demonstrate how to make an insect spreading board. Have the members construct their

spreading boards.

3. Show how to spread the wings of a butterfly. If live butterflies cannot be found at this

time of the year, a model can be constructed and

used for demonstration.

4. Show a film on insects.

5. Instruct members to bring materials for

making an insect net and an insect collection box.

(See Agr. Handb. 65, p. 7, or your State 4-H

entomology project book.)

4th Meeting

1. Open the meeting with a short discussion

on how insects afl^ect man. (See p. 4 in this

manual.)

2. Construct the insect collecting net. Demonstrate how to use the insect net. Demonstrate

how to remove insects from the net.

3. Construct or procure the insect collection

box.

4. Discuss the topic Where To Look for Insects. (See p. 11 of this manual.)
5. Instruct members to collect 4 or 5 insects

and bring them to the next meeting.

5th Meeting

1. Open meeting with a rollcall topic on Where

To Look for Insects.

2. Have members report on their experiences

in collecting.

3. Demonstrate how to pin the various groups

of insects. (See Agr. Handb. 65 p. 8.) You

may want to repeat the demonstration on how

to spread the wings of a butterfly. Pass out the

insect pins and have the members pin the insects

they collected.

4. Demonstrate how to use the insect label

and how to adjust the height of the insect and the

label on the insect pin. (See Agr. Handb. 65,

p. 9.)

5. Show how to arrange the insects in the insect collection box.

6. Discuss possible plans to procure additional help to identify insects with which you are

not familiar. (See p. 6 of this manual.)

7. Discuss plans for exhibiting insect collections.

8. Ask members to choose one insect and be

prepared to give a report on its life history at the

next meeting.

6th Meeting

1. Open meeting with a rollcall topic. Member answers by giving name of an insect, preferably one of which he has studied the life history

and control.

2. Have selected members give a report on the

life history of an insect.

3. Review important points to remember in

life history studies.

4. Divide your members into four groups, and

assign each group to look up as much information as possible on one of the following topics:

Four ways insects are protected by nature:

a. Mimicry—one insect resembles another which is less tasty to its

enemies.

b. Pugnacity—-bees protect their hive

by stinging their enemies.

c. Playing dead—certain insects pretend death whenever disturbed.

d. Protective coloration and form—

blending into their surroundings.

This information may be obtained from encyclopedias or magazines or from actual live

specimens.

7th Meeting

1. Open meeting with a rollcall topic naming

a part of an insect.

2. Have a demonstration by a club member or

a team on control methods for one or more common insects.

3. Consider the major points in insect

sect control in a discussion with the members.

(See this manual, p. 4.)

4. Distribute and note highlights on Opportunities in Professional Entomology. (See selected references in this manual.)

Keeping Records

Use the State or local record forms. If none

are available in your State, suggestions for a

record form may be found in Agriculture Handbook No. 65, pages 41, 50, 51, and 52.

Awards

Other local groups may make contributions to

support the entomology project; however, the

Hercules Powder Co. sponsors the following

awards to individual members:

County A maximum of four gold-filled

medals of honor will be awarded

to top-ranking members.

State An all-expense trip to the National -Ir-H Club Congress to he

held in Chicago.

National Six $400 college scholarships

will be presented to a "blue

award group" of State winners,

preferably to consist of 1 from

each of the 4 Extension regions

and 2 at large. The allotment

shall depend upon the quality of

records.

15
Iníormins the Public

Enlist the cooperation of neivspaper and magazine publishers and radio and television outlets.—You should use many means to share the

story of activities. This will increase enthusiasm for the program, sell it to the public, and

generally expand its effectiveness.

Suggestions.—See your local newspaper

editor and explain your entomology program to

him. Keep him informed of progress.

Visit the nearest radio station. Arrange program time. Several of your discussion topics

will make interesting radio interviews. Invite

the radio editor out to one of your meetings to

make a recording of one of your discussions.

Participation in radio and television shows is

excellent training in public speaking for members. Your county extension agent might have a

program on which you and your club members

can appear.

Notify newspapers and radio stations of all

special events, such as tours, demonstrations,

contests, recognitions, and ceremonies.

Here are some of the subjects that will make

good news stories:

What the club is doing.

What individual members are doing.

Tours and field trips.

Campaigns.

Meetings featuring outside speakers.

Winners in the county, State, and National

awards program.

Don't overlook television. Use simple

demonstrations, such as those descriped on page

10 of this manual.

A newspaperman will appreciate your reporter's giving him the essential facts about any

events to be announced. These facts are the

familiar five W's of any news story—when,

where, what, who, and why. This means when

and where the event is to be held; what it is

about; who will take part; and why it is being

held.

Farm magazines are always glad to have good

how-to-do-it stories. The National 4-H Club

News wants to have reports of club activities, too.

And remember, as in other areas, that your

4—H public information programs must be in

keeping with the overall county programs under

the direction of your extension agents.

Juncbug

Mud Dauber

Aphid

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINiING OFFICE: 1956 0-391262

16

Kor s;.k. hy the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Govornmont Printins Oflice

Washington 25, ]). C. - Price 20 cents
Evaluating the Results of Your Work

Your duties at the end of the year are many.

There are record books to be completed and forwarded to the county extension office. You help

arrano^e for winners to attend district and State

events. You assist in planning exhibits for fairs.

You help arrange for transportation to these

events. This is the time, too, when you evaluate

the results of the entomology program. Some of

the measures of your success are these:

Number of members who participated in

the program.

Number of members who completed their

objectives.

Number of members who plan to enroll next

year.

Response of the community to the entomology program.

Interest of parents in the program.

Of course, evaluation of results is a never-ending

process if the program is to grow.

Rewards You Receive.—You have given much

of your time and thought and energy to the 4-H

program. What are your rewards? Not money,

surely. Yet the satisfactions of 4-H leadership

are many:

The fun of service to boys and girls.

Opportunities to meet people and attend

events.

Personal growth.

Inner satisfaction.

Service to community, county, and State.

Public recognition.

Leaders testify that they often "take away more

than they bring." They agree with the late Dr.

C. B. Smith that their most enduring satisfaction

in life is to devote to others the talents with which

they are blessed. "That which you do for yourself dies with you ; that which you do for others

lives long after you are gone."

The Time of Your Satisfaction.—Perhaps

your time of greatest satisfaction is when members trained by you have reaped the reward of

their work. The member's rewards are several:

He may have been instrumental in the adoption of new entomology practices on his

home farm.

He may have influenced neighbors to adopt

new practices.

He may have earned an office in his club.

He may have received well-merited publicity in press and radio.

His activities may have been publicly acknowledged in the county achievement

programs.

He may have achieved the crowning glories

of trips to the National Camp, the National Club Congress, or the State

Roundup.

He may have won other county, State, or

even National honors.

These are the liours when the leader feels the

satisfaction of a teacher whose students have

justified the teacher's fondest hopes. He knows

that his hours spent with boys and girls have

helped build citizenship and character.
Selected References

CHU, H. F.

1949. HOW TO KNOW THE IMMATURE INSECTS. 234

pp., illus. William C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa.

COMSTOCK, J. N.

1924. AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 1044 pp.,

illus. The Comstock Publishing Co., Inc.,

New York.

CURRAN, CHARLES H.

1954. THE GOLDEN PLAYBOOK OF INSECT STAMPS.

48 pp. illus. Simon & Schuster, New York.

EssiG, EDWARD 0.

1926. INSECTS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA. 1035

pp., illus. Macmillan & Co., New York.

HERCULES POWDER CO.

19.56. HANDBOOK OF THE INSECT WORLD. Wilmington 99, Del. [Copies free upon request.]

JAQUES, H. E.

1947. HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS. 140 pp., illus.

William C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa.

1951. HOW TO KNOW THE BEETLES. 372 pp., illus.

William C. Brown Co., Dubuque, Iowa.

JONES, M. P.

1939. BUYING INSECTICIDES. 9 pp. mimeo. (playlet),

(revised 1956). Your county agent or

M. P. Jones, Federal Extension Service,

U. S. Dept. of Agr., Washington 25, D. C.

1950. STRIPED CUCUMBER BEETLE CONTROL. 7 pp.

mimeo. (playlet). Your county agent or

M. P. Jones, Federal Extension Service,

U. S. Dept. of Agr., Washington 25, D. C.

JONES, M. P.,etal.

1956. OPPORTUNITIES IN PROFESSIONAL ENTOMOLOGY. 12 pp. [Copies obtainable from

the Entomological Society of America,

1530 P Street NW., Washington 5, D. C]

LUTZ, FRANK E.

1935. FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS OF UNITED STATES AND

CANADA. Ed. 3, 510 pp., illus. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York.

METCALF, C. L., and FLINT, W. P.

1939. DESTRUCTIVE AND USEFUL INSECTS. Ed. 2,

981 pp., illus. McGraw-Hill Book Co.,

Inc., New York.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WORK,

INC.

National 4-H Club News, 59 East Van Buren

Street, Chicago 5, 111. [Practically every

issue carries items on entomology.]

PEAIRS, LEONARD MARION, AND DAVIDSON, RALPH

HOWARD.

1956. INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN, AND ORCHARD.

Ed. 5, 661 pp., illus. John Wiley & Sons,

Inc., New York, and Chapman & Hall, Ltd.,

London.

SWAIN, RALPH B.

1948. THE INSECT GUIDE. 261 pp., illus. Doubleday & Co., New York.

WESTCOTT, CYNTHIA.

1956. THE GARDENER'S BUG BOOK. 579 pp., illus.

The American Garden Guild and Doubleday & Co., New York.

ZIM, HERBERT S., AND COTTAM, CLARENCE.

1951. INSECTS. 157 pp., illus. Simon & Schuster,

New York.

Cooperative Extension Work: United States

Department of Agriculture and State Land-Grant

Colleges and Universities Cooperating.