Entomology The scientific study of insects From Greek

Entomology The scientific study of insects. From Greek: ἔντομος, entomos, "that which is cut in pieces or engraved/segmented", and -λογία, -logia. A branch of arthropodology.

Develop: Learning Outcomes • Awareness of where to find assistance and relevant species-related information (e. g. main guides/keys, societies, role of museums, web resources) • Main diagnostic features for the studied group • Relevant identification tools or techniques for the studied group • The field craft needed to work with the studied group • Basic competence in identifying the most common or easily distinguished examples of species from studied group

Nomenclature The system of principles, procedures and terms related to naming. Kingdom Phylum 2 to 6 35 Subphylum 5 Class Order 4 ~30 > Animalia > Arthropoda exoskeleton, segmented body, jointed appendages > Hexapoda six thoracic legs > Insecta

• Chitinous exoskeleton • 3 -part body (head, thorax, and abdomen) • 3 pairs of jointed legs • Compound eyes • 2 antennae Insecta

~30 orders of insects: 4 dominate Pharmacophagus antenor Lepidoptera Chrysomela vigintipunctata Coleoptera Bombus terrestris Diptera Hymenoptera

Nomenclature Order Coleoptera = sheath winged = beetles Diptera = two winged = flies Ephemeroptera = ephemeral winged = mayflies Hymenoptera = membrane winged = sawflies, wasps, bees and ants Lepidoptera = scaly winged = butterflies & moths Orthoptera = straight winged = crickets & grasshoppers Thysanoptera = fringe winged = thrips Thysanura = fringed tail = bristle tails Tricoptrea = hairy winged = caddis flies

COLLECTING

Pitfall trap Coloured pan trap Sticky trap

Malaise trap

Sweep net

Beating

Leaf Litter Sifting

Sifting and Winkling

Winkler sack

Berlese funnel

Blacklighting

Digging/shredding/searching!

Blendon (bait) butterfly trap

Mud puddling

Salt (sweat)

KILLING

Alcohol: kill ants, aphids, beetles, bugs, fleas, lice, mayflies, silverfish, springtails, and termites. Killing bottle: bees, butterflies, crickets, damselflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, moths, roaches, and wasps. Boiling water: insect larvae, such as cutworms, grubs, and maggots. Transfer the specimens to alcohol after a few minutes. Freezing: place insects in a bag or jar and freeze them. NB: If you use a glass jar, condensation will form, possibly harming specimens with scales.

Killing Jar (Fumigation) • Tightly fitted lid • Plaster or sawdust in the bottom • Chemical: ethyl acetate, acetone (nail polish remover), sodium cyanide, or potassium cyanide • Piece of cardboard with holes about one inch off the surface of the fumigant to keep the liquid fumigant away from your specimens.

RELAXING

• Relaxing chamber: 8 hours should suffice, but larger specimens may require 24 hours or more. NB: Don't leave too long or mould will set in and specimens will rot. • Household Ammonia: To relax just a leg or part of an insect paint a drop or two ordinary household ammonia directly on the part. • Hot water injection: directly inject specimen with very fine hypodermic needle.

SPREADING (SETTING)

Spreading boards used for Lepidoptera and insects with large wings. Foam (~1 inch thick)can be used for other insects. Once positioned stand undisturbed for about 3 days to dry. After the specimens are dry, they can be removed and placed in a storage box.

MOUNTING

Pinning • Used for medium to large insects. • Entomological pins can be purchased at most biological supply companies. Entomological pins range in size from 000 to 7, with 7 being the largest. Size 2 or 3 are most commonly used. • Most of the time the pin is inserted in the center of the thorax, but with beetles, the pin is inserted in the middle of the right elytron (wing sheath).

Pin placement for mounting various types of insects A & B) grasshopper, C)true bug, D) bee, E) beetle, F) butterfly, G) moth

Points • Slender triangles of thick paper to which an insect is glued to the thin end a pin is inserted through the wide end. • Different types of glue may be used, but white glue is most common. Clear nail varnish works well.

The double mount • An alternative to points. • Can be used for most small insects, especially micro Lepidoptera. • A very small Minuten pin should be inserted in the specimen, which is then inserted in a small block of cork. • A standard insect pin should then be inserted in the opposite end of the cork block.

Vial of alcohol • Soft bodied insects and arachnids. • A label should be inserted in the vial, written with alcohol proof ink. • NB: If you are preserving insect larva, you may need to insert specimens in boiling water. If this is not done before storing in alcohol, specimens may blacken.

LABELLING

• Sample number • Specimen number • Collection method • Collector • Date • • Darwin Core TDWG Location (Country, Lat/Lon, text description of location) Altitude Habitat Pen/Ink types Microhabitat • Species • Determined by • Male/Female • Notes (e. g. behaviour)

STORING

• Alcohol: Needs to be “neat” (>80%) to replace water and preserve DNA. Can evaporate if seals are not very good. • Silica gel: absorbs humidity and prevents decomposition. Re-useable silica granules, with colour indicator, are a good idea. • Naphthalene (moth balls): in a paper envelope will keep any chitin devouring insects away from your collection

USEFULL SOURCES OF INFO

Online Keys http: //keys. lucidcentral. org Taxonomic Data Working Group http: //www. tdwg. org/activities/darwincore Royal Entomological Society http: //www. royensoc. co. uk/ Specialist Interest Groups http: //www. butterfly-conservation. org/ Equipment http: //www. watdon. co. uk/