Calling All Bug Collectors!
Your office is in dire need of a good, comprehensive bug
collection. The collection offers the same benefits as your wonderfully
prepared weed collection in the office, INSTANT identification! Correct
identification is the first step in proper pest diagnosis. We have new
Master Gardeners that have graciously revealed their ‘buggy’
side and have already begun to produce insect specimens for the collection.
We also have some high school volunteers that are contributing to the
collection to fulfill community service hours. Finally, we have an expert
entomology student from WWU that is going to assist in collecting, preserving
and identifying our insects. We have all the right people and equipment,
WE JUST NEED THE BUGS!
Why waste my time collecting insects, Todd?
- Personal Expertise! Collecting insects is the only way to become familiar
with the diversity out there. Through your collections, you will become
familiar with insect phenology (the when and where of insect development).
You will become familiar with insect habitats and behaviors. Most importantly,
you will become an expert in insect identification!
- Your efforts will provide a voucher collection for the ‘bug-impaired’
or squeamish MG’s. Master Gardeners 100 years in the future will
be able to use your collection to identify insects. A reference collection
will increase the MG’s accuracy and speed of diagnosing insect
samples that come into the office.
- Finally, we don’t know what’s out there. On average, with
limited collectors, we have discovered 1.5 insect species per year in
Bellingham that were not known to Washington State, the United States,
or even North America! Your name could go into the history books.
Guidelines and Highlights of Insect Killing, Preserving and Collecting:
- Hard-bodied insects (they would crunch if you step on them) should
be placed into a sealed canister and put into your freezer (or the one
in the MG office). Freezing insects is an excellent way to kill and
keep specimens hydrated. You do not need to buy killing jars (these
can be dangerous and you need to pin them immediately). Keep the specimens
frozen until you can pin them or bring them in for pinning. Do not keep
them in the freezer for extended periods of time (they will get freezer
burnt and are useless). Do not let the specimens go dry; it is a difficult
process to re-hydrate a bone-dry specimen.
- Place soft-bodied insects (like aphids, maggots, caterpillars and
other immature insects) into isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) or
vinegar. Unless we can get a liquor license, we don’t have access
to the preferred fixative, ethanol. Large soft-bodied insects (such
as big caterpillars) should be fixed in boiling water. Bring the water
to a boil, then remove from the heat and let sit for a few moments until
the water is not violent. Throw the specimens into the water; the surface
tension usually keeps them afloat. Fish out the insects and place into
an airtight vial with alcohol. NOTE: Keep alcohol away from your boiling
area.
- If you collect immature insects (especially ones with complete metamorphosis)
like caterpillars. Kill and preserve only a few. Leave the others to
complete their life cycle to adulthood. Check the site regularly and
collect each stage (pupae and adult too). Or try and raise the insects
yourself by placing them in a cage and feeding them host material. Techniques
to do this are in the hand out. This is extremely important because
many insects are unidentifiable without the adult stage or even without
both males and females. Additionally, you may be very surprised of what
else might pop out! This is a great way to find parasitoids (most important
beneficials and my favorite bugs).
- Finally and MOST IMPORTANTLY, keep records of each specimen collected.
An insect collected with out a label is senseless slaughter of a living
thing because it is useless to anyone. Do not neglect this responsibility.
Always label your bugs and always have a pen and paper handy. You NEED
to take the following information:
- The location that you have collected the specimen. State, County,
City, Street Address, or significant landmark such as Cornwall Park.
- The habitat/host or any biologically significant association.
Like collected from raspberry. Or collected on edge of tidal pool.
Or collected from dead log. Or reared from cherry leaves….
- Sampling technique or collection method. Trapped at light. Pit-fall
trap. Hand collected.
- Killing method and preservation. Boiled in H2O, Isopropyl alcohol,
vinegar...
We have the supplies, the know-how and space for an insect collection;
we just need the bugs, labels and preparation! The effort now will pay
off for years and years. The season is prime and we have plenty of time
to collect! If you would like to contribute to the collection this year
please go outside and yell “I want to collect bugs!” or contact
me and your fellow Master Gardeners:
Todd Murray (360) 676-6736 (tamurray@coopext.cahe.wsu.edu)
Tamesa
Melanie
Elizabeth
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