ENGLISH ESSAY CLASS 8

Insect collecting is one of the most interesting hobbies among people. It is a great way to learn and identify different types of insects that thrive in our environment. As per most people, this hobby is one of the oldest hobbies in the world.

Frequently collected insects
Butterflies and moths are frequently collected insects. Other popular insects that are frequently collected are grasshoppers, ladybugs, beetles, etc.

Equipments required for insect collecting
- killing jar
- insect net
- relaxing jar
- insect pins and labels
- forceps
- storage box
- spreading board and pinning block

Preserving and labeling the specimens
Soft-bodied insects such as mayflies, aphids, springtails, silverfish, thrips, caterpillars and others cannot be pinned. If they are placed on pins their bodies will gradually shrink and decompose. These insects should be conserved in chemicals in a rubber-stopper glass vial. Generally ethyl alcohol or Isopropyl alcohols are used for preserving the insects in the vials.

The hard-bodied insects have hard exoskeleton or shell and hence they stay well for a longer period of time after drying. These insects can be easily mounted on insect pins. One can obtain insect pins from shops dealing in biological supplies.

The preserved insect specimens, whether pinned or kept in a vial, should be properly labeled.

Following details of the insect specimens should always be incorporated in the labels:

Date - the day (day, month, and year) on which the insect was collected.
Location - the place where the specimen was collected.
Name - the name of the individual who collected it
Environment - this refers to leaf, pond surface, wood surface and similar places where the insect was, when it was collected.

Insect collecting, other than being a fun filled hobby, is a great educational tool for the children as well. This hobby instills the habit of research and thirst for scientific knowledge among children and adults.

© Arked Infotech 2016