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Preservation of insects

After collection, specimens are to be kept in a killing jar to protect them against struggling out. The standard killing jar should contain  potassium cyanide ; the jar should also have  a covering  because these chemical is poisonous to handle . Also ether or chloroform can be used in a killing jar . Large winged insects should be wrapped in an envelop paper  to prevent damage of wings  then place in jars

 These insects should be labeled  with the following special information

1. location of collection
2. date of collection
3. The common name
4. Scientific name
5. Vernacular name  
6. Name of the collector
7. Preservative used

 Mounting of insects

 Mount insects immediately after collection

1. Keep large insects in large envelops
2. Insects becomes brittle, the antennae and the legs breaks off. If they are kept for long . These brittleness  can be solved by placing  such insects in a relaxing jar  to soften them . Place them on a spreading board  with their wings stretched , its advisable  to pin insects  on board with one of their wings  left  hanging .
3. Relaxing jars are of different sizes  and are repaired to accommodate many insects of various  sizes  .Inside each jar  , insert a wet cotton wool   to with a few drops of carbolic  acid   have been added to inhibit growth of moulds . Cover the cotton wool with a layer of bloating papers  and place the insect  on top and cover the jar
4. After 24hrs, the insects are soft enough to handle for mounting  and for spreading   such insects should be handled with care because they are very weak . A spreader may be used to spread insects wings, such spreaders can be purchased  or made locally . They consist of two side sections  made of soft wood  with a   channel along the center  that is wide enough to accommodate  the insects body .
5. Pin the insect via the thorax by inserting a mounting pin  into the groove  of the spreader  using a forceps . Arrange the legs of the insects as they are when alive. Use a strip of paper to hold the wings into position . the duration for drying for insects depends on the insects  body and may vary from days  to 2 weeks

Mounting insects for display

 Set insects on pins which can be inserted into a soft box

 Pin insects by thorax, but small insects e.g. weevils are too small to be pinned. They are fastened  on a triangle of light  weight  stiff paper  and pins are inserted  via a broad based triangle . Small fragile insects e.g. mosquito  are first pinned to a piece of   cork

Care of collected insects

Collected and preserved / mounted insects can be destroyed  by other living insects  which attack and feed on them  e.g. termites  ,black ants  ,weevils etc. . To keep these insects away   chemicals are used to protect them  eg paradichlorobenzene