Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-15
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

Few Of the museums Of the world nave
such a large collection OF insect specimens
as is possessed by the National Museum.
Aided by the work Of the biological sur
vey and the bureau of entomology OF the
Department Of Agriculture, and with
many of the insect collectors In the
United States presenting new specimens
all the time, II is easy to see how the
best collection in America is to be found
here Last year the bureau Of entomology
contributed some 10000 specimens. main
ly representing one family Of beetles.
which had been assembled in connection
with the investigations on forest insects.
Many OF these insects have been de-
structive to pine and other forest trees.
Some Of them bored rings around the
trunk of a tree beneath the bark. thus
efectually cutting off the ascent or the
sap and killing the trees.
The direct usefulness of the museum
collections is illustrated by the loan OF
several thousand specimens to the Gypsy
Moth Parasite Laboratory in Massa-
chusetts for the study in connection with
the campaign to conquer the gypsy moth
There is, perhaps, no field of geological
inquiry so comparatively unworked az
that which has to do with the insects OF
the world. Nearly half a million different
species have been described, and yet en-
tomolOgists estimate that the total num-
Der OF species In existence today Is GER
tainly upward of a million. Some OF
them put their figures as high as 10000
600 over $4,000 different species have
been described in the United States, and
nearly all of these are represented in the
National Museum collections.
x
Some idea Of the proportion of each
order of insect species In the world may
be gathered
Family Of Beetles from tho tact
the Most Numerous. sso. 900 species
which had been described prior to re-
cent year. $4,000 species were beetles
and GOOOO species were moths and but
terf1ies. There were 5000 species OF
ants, bees and wasps. $4,000 species OF
two-winged flies. and $4,000 kinds OF
true bugs. One family of beetles alone
already has shown more than $1,000
species-the weevils. These have been
found in every sort Of commodity from
unground wheat to cayenne pepper.
The National Museum has found that
many private collectors are willing to
assist In the work of building up the
museums collections Of insects. In order
to stimulate this sort of aid, the museum
has issued a booklet giving full directions
for the collection and preparation of In
sect specimens. The main part of the
equipment recommended Is extremely
simple One Of the things most used by
a collector Is a cyanide bottle. This is
prepared by purchasing a number of
small pieces of the deadly cyanide and
placing them in the bottom Of a wide
mouthed bottle. On top of this Is placed
some dry plaster of paris. Above this is
placed a wet portion Of the same material.
which is allowed to harden, thus effec-
tually imprisoning the cyanide and allow
ing only the requisite fumes to escape.
The insects are placed in the bottle, and
the inhalation of the cyanide fumes
promptly kills them: The insect-collect-
ing guide Is supplied to all persons who
are seriously engaged in the work Of in
sect study. and who will do what they