Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-15

Students of agriculture will gain
more by studying insects injurious to
crops than by studying butterflies
and harmless species, for the pupil
who becomes familiar with the for
mer will find that their life histories
will often furnish a key to proper
methods of combating them. Teach
ers in rural schools throughout the
country will be particularly interest
ed in a new farmers bulletin (No.
606), just issued by the U. s. Depart
ment of Agriculture. which contains
detailed instruction regarding the col
lecting, preparing, mounting and pre-
serving of insect specimens. The bull
letin is entitled Collection ana Pres
erVation of Insects and other Material
for Use in the Study of Agriculture"
and may be had free from the depart
ment as long as the supply lasts.
The teacher or her pupil with very
little expense or trouble may make
such articles as are necessary for coll
lecting insects. The necessary equip
ment for an insect-collecting excur-
sion should include collecting nets,
killing bottles, a box containing some
walls partly filed with alcohol in
Which to place specimens of larvae
and pupae, a trowel for digging speci-
mems out of the earth, a small hatchet
for breaking open rotten stumps,
some sheets of newspaper or other
soft paper, size about 8 by 5 inches,
for making envelopes in which to put
delicate specimens of butterflies or
moths, a small bottle of chloroform or
gasoline, and a small hand satchel,
haversack, or botanical specimen
case, with a few small pasteboard
boxes, such as pill boxes, in which
to put insects after taking them out
of the killing bottle.
A small paid of forceps or tweezers
will also be found convenient for
handling some of the specimens, and
a pocket lens will be a desirable aid
for the study of the specimens in the
field.
How to Attract Insects.
Many insects are attracted to light,
and a strong lamp with reflector to
throw the light upon a white sheet
will serve to attract many insects,
particularly on sultry nights. A mix
ture of sugar or molasses and decay
| ing apples smeared on trees In the
woods will often attract moths at
night. A bull's-eye lantern is useful
| in examining these patches in the
evening.
| branches and leaves of trees, an in
verted umbrella is the most useful
implement Hold it at arms length
under the tree and jar the limb with a
| heavy stick. A sudden shock will
dislodge many beetles and other in
sects that one would not have no.
! ticed upon the tree.
Cans or bottles sunk in the ground
so that the top is even with the top
! of the soil and baited with meat. q
dead mouse, rotten apples, etc, will
| be visited by various insects. Boards
or pieces of bark left on the ground
near the edges of woods and meadows
| will serve as shelters for a variety
of insects. and If visited occasionally
one will find many interesting speci-
| MEMS Always turn back stones, logs
or boards after examining them sc
that they will continue to attract in
| sects.
One must always be careful in TAX
ing insects from a net not to crush
them nor rub the scales from the
wings of butterflies and moths. AL
| ways handle specimens as little as
possible.
Ways of killing and mounting in.
sects are described in great detail il
the new bulletin. Insects may bs
killed by a vapor of chloroform
ether, sulphur or smoke.
Common pins are too large for us,
in mounting most insects. Longer
and more slender pins suited for tn,
purpose may be bought from dealer
in natural history supplies for a dol
lar or less per thousand. They ar
bright, black, or tapanned In color.