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Selected Students Collection Summaries

In some biology classes students have the opportunity to make an insect collection outside of class.

Most semester, and unless notified otherwise, the collection must be beetles (Coleoptera) only. You must collect a minimum of 10 different species of beetles. Some semesters, depending on weather conditions, the instructor may inform student that they only need to collect 5 different species -- in other words five can be duplicates. The beetles collected will be donated to the STC insect teaching collection.

Size requirement: Only insects large enough so that they can be mounted on the insect pins (which will be provided by the instructor at the end of the semester) qualifies for the collection.

Students may receive dispensation to make a butterfly collection (Lepidoptera), like the beautiful butterfly above, or other insect groups, but should understand that such a collection require extra work -- often much extra work.

SEMESTER PROJECT: General Information

Beetle Collection: This project is a field project. You must go out in the fresh air -- use your eyes, nose and other senses, and look for beetles. You collect your beetles, of good quality, in a leak proof SCREWCAP glass or plastic JAR, with 70% clear rubbing alcohol. All beetles must be adults and in good quality. (Larvae not accepted -- there are no "baby beetles" -- all beetles are either adults or larvae -- larvae are "worm" like.) Scraping up junk on the sidewalk will not qualify for points. Students will receive instructions on how to mount the insects in class as noted in the Semester Calendar with insects pins provided and handed out by the instructor (you will get 10 pins for 10 beetles -- if you don't use all ten you must return the unused or accept point deductions on the project). Do not use regular pins! If you are a parent, this project is usually a popular project with kids...

I had never done this kind of project. It was the first time I ever collected bugs. At the school, I did not find any bugs. When I went home I took my 6 year old son to the gas station and I told him about my project. He was amazed with the idea of getting bugs. It was a great experience to share with him. I work full time and go to school so I do not get to spend very much time with him. I will be honest. He was the brave one to get the bugs with his hands and put them in the jar. He absolutely loved the experience and I was happy to share the time and experience with my lovely little one. (Biology Student)

The project may be done by individual students or in groups of 2 or 3 students (more than 3 will not be allowed -- no exceptions). If you work in groups you are expected to submit a beetle collection with 20 or 30 beetles (minimum 10 different species but duplicates allowed depending on the group size).

Collection Progress (see semester calendar for due dates):

Progress report 1: Selection of project online

A short description of what you have done, or thinking of doing. You must also register your group if you have decided to work in a group.

Progress report 2: Initiation and discussion of project in classroom:
(i) bring to the classroom a minimum of 3 beetles in a collection jar with clear 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, labeled with student name and collecting county (jar of appropriate size -- not to big, not too small, transparent, glass or plastic, with leak-proof screw-cap). Beetles must be collected live, with all body parts intact -- including 6 legs and 2 antennae. Beetles collected dead and dry usually crumbles when pinned.
(ii) bring to the classroom a collection box you made with pinning surface and cover to eventually safely house the pinned specimens.
(iii) bring to the classroom a printed copy of this instruction page. (To save printing ink, highlight the text and copy and paste into a word processor. Print the word processing document.)

(The jar and collection box will be returned to the student after being check-marked by the instructor. The printed copy of the instruction page must be submitted in a plastic sheet protector for later grading (see this page for details), and will be retained by the instructor.)

Below are some links you can click on, but the information is not limited to beetles:

Note: The student is responsible for figuring out what is a beetle. If you don't know what is a beetle -- the most common and species rich organism on our planet, you can use this pages to help you or learn about beetles on the World Wide Web.

How to make an insect collection Tools of the Trade: Collecting the Insects Tools of the Trade: Drying boxes Tools of the Trade: Mounting the Insects What's a beetle? Selected Students Collection Summaries Mounting butterflies 1 (VIDEO) Mounting butterflies 2 (not online) Mounting butterflies 3 (not online) Mounting butterflies 4 (not online)

NOTES:

The minimum size of the insects is regulated by what is possible to mount on an insect pin. Insects that are so small that they must be mounted on a paper points will NOT qualify for the Regular Insect Collection.

Insects MUST be mounted on insect pins provided by your instructor. Do NOT mount insects on regular pins!

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Copyright 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, Jan A. Nilsson. Web page layout and design © and intellectual property Jan A. Nilsson. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Page created 10.V.2003, last updated 08.II.2007, most likely during the wee hours of the morning on a G3 PowerBook owned by Jan A. Nilsson.

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