Handbook to the Construction and Use of Insect Collection and Rearing
Devices: A guide for teachers with suggested classroom
applications
by Gregory S. Paulson
This book is a compilation of techniques and devices for collecting and
rearing insects that should appeal to educators and professional or
amateur entomologist. Insects are great for classroom studies.
They are easy to collect and raise and have a fascinating array of life
histories. Because they are small and have tremendous
reproductive capacity ecological studies of dispersion, predation,
parasitism and reproduction can be studied in compressed timeframes and
small areas relative to similar studies or larger organisms. In a
small space and with very little cost colonies of insects can be raised
in classrooms for use in behavioral and physiological studies.
The purpose of this book is to explain how to build and use insect
collecting and rearing devices and through explanations of the various
techniques stimulate educators to explore the study of insects in their
classrooms. A materials list, instructions for assembly,
construction tips, and, if appropriate, suggestions for classroom
projects including suggestions for simple statistical analyses is
included for each device discussed in the text. There is also a
review of simple statistics for use in the classroom. Anyone with
basic hand tools, a little skill and patience can construct these
devices. Most of them require less than 1 hour assembly time and
cost very little because they can be made from recycled items.
Photographs are included to help you visualize the completed item.
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Table
of Contents
Introduction
Choosing Materials for Projects
Active Collection Devices
Aspirators
Handling Tiny Organisms
Vacuum Collectors
White Pans
Surber-type Sampler
Beating Trays
Plankton Net
Insect nets
Sampling Frames
Kick Nets
Passive Collection Devices
Pitfall Traps
Pan Traps
Carpet Trap
Malaise Traps
Light Traps
Cover Boards
Aquatic Traps – Leaf Packs
Burlese Funnels
Cages and Observation Arenas
Bucket Viewer
Sleeve Cage
Clip Cage
Aluminum Screen Cage
Bucket Rearing Cage
PVC Pipe Cage
Can and Wire Cage
A Variety of Small Cages
Small Aquatic Viewing Arena
Large Aquatic Viewing Arena
Glass-Sided Terrestrial Observation Cage
Ant Farms
Handling Insects and Preparing an
Insect Collection
Killing Jars
Vials
Pinning Insects
Relaxing Specimens
Minuten Pins and Paper Points
Spreading Board
Mini-Spreading Board
Pinning Block
Observation Block
Mini Dissection Tray
Insect Labels
Riker Mounts
Magnifiers
Forceps and Paint Brushes
Miscellaneous Techniques
Marking Organisms
Emergence trap
Appendix A: Net Pattern
Appendix B: Statistical Analyses
Appendix C: References & Field Guides
Appendix D: Sources for Materials