Oregon State University Extension Service

Collecting and Preserving Insects

Collecting insects can be a fun hobby, and is also an important step in IPM. The resources in this collection will help you learn how to find and collect insects and arthropods, then prepare them so that they can be useful for identification and research efforts.

Collecting insects and related arthoropods

Detailed instructions on collecting insects for a specimen collection.

Silvia I. Rondon, Mary Corp | Jan 2010 | Article

Collecting Insects: Tools and Supplies (in English)

Oregon State University Extension entomologist Silvia Rondon discusses the tools and supplies needed to start an insect collection.

Silvia I. Rondon | Jul 2011 | Video

Collecting Insects with Traps and Lights (in English)

Oregon State University Extension entomologist Silvia Rondon shows how to use pit fall traps and lights to collect insects.

Silvia I. Rondon | Jul 2011 | Video

Using a Wing Trap (in English)

Demonstration of how to assemble a paper wing trap to monitor insects. Wing traps are baited with a pheromone lure that attracts a certain species of interest.

Jessica Green | May 2013 | Video

Using a beat sheet (in English)

Oregon State University Extension entomologist Silvia Rondon demonstrates this insect sampling tool.

Silvia I. Rondon | Jul 2011 | Video

Sweep Net Technique (in English)

Demonstration of how to use a sweep net to collect insects.

Silvia I. Rondon, Mary Corp | Jul 2011 | Video

Preserving insects and related arthropods

Learn to select the proper methods of preservation for your insect collection. Methods and materials depend on the type of insect and the purpose and size of the collection.

Mary Corp, Silvia I. Rondon | Jun 2016 | Article

Pinning and labeling insects

The proper way to pin an insect depends on the type of insect that you have collected. ALERT! soft-bodied insects such as scales, caterpillars, mayflies, silverfish and others cannot be pinned. Learn the 15 steps to pinning butterflies and moths.

Silvia I. Rondon, Mary Corp | Feb 2010 | Article

Pinning Small Insects (in English)

Oregon State University Extension entomologist Silvia Rondon shows how to pin small insects in a collection.

Silvia I. Rondon | Jul 2011 | Video

Pinning Large Insects (in English)

Oregon State University Extension entomologist Silvia Rondon demonstrates how to pin large insects, another step in creating an insect collection.

Silvia I. Rondon | Jul 2011 | Video

Pinning Butterflies and Moths (in English)

Oregon State University Extension entomologist Silvia Rondon shows how to pin butterflies and moths for an insect collection.

Silvia I. Rondon | Jul 2011 | Video

Insect Labeling (in English)

Oregon State University Extension's Mary Corp explains the importance of labeling insects in a collection and how to do it.

Mary Corp | Jul 2011 | Video

How to pin insects (in English)

These Purdue University Extension videos show how to pin: a ground beetle, damselfly, silkworm moth, hornworm moth.

Purdue University Extension | Jan 2024 | Online resource

Essential material needed for storing and displaying insects

Learn about storage boxes, insect pins, storage racks, spreading boards, point punches and other tips.

Silvia I. Rondon, Mary Corp | Jan 2010 | Article

Also see this related Extension Catalog publication: Identifying Insects and Arthropods in Oregon.

Dec 2018
Authors
Silvia I. Rondon
(Former)
Mary Corp
Director (Former)
Source URL: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/collection/collecting-preserving-insects