6th Grade Insect Collection
Each collection must contain 20 specimens; Extra specimens will earn extra credit.
All species must be identified with the following information:
If you can’t find the Latin name for each specimen don’t sweat it- we will work on those in class this September. These collections are due September 20. This gives you plenty of time to work on them- however keep in mind that as fall and cold weather approaches many of the insects will begin to disappear, so it is important that you begin as soon as possible.
You will need a box with a lid for your collection. A large shoebox should do, or any large flat box with a lid. Decorate the lid- be sure to include your name and “6th Grade Science”. Cut a piece of foam to fit the bottom- Styrofoam, foam board or the blue foam builders use will all work. This is to pin the insects to.
You will also need:
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A few small jars with screw on lids for killing jars. Plastic containers will also work, like margarine tubs, etc. as long as they have tight fitting lids. 2 or 3 will be plenty.
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Cotton balls
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Non-acetone finger nail polish remover- this will provide the chemical fumes that kill the bug.
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Long pins- quilting pins will work, get some as thin as you can find. Charlie in the school office has some entomology pins (20 to a pack) if you want those, stop by and pick them up.
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Procedure: First catch an insect. (Insects have 6 legs- spiders are NOT insects!) Put the insect in one of the jars, with a cotton ball soaked with finger nail polish remover. Close the lid tightly. Leave the jar for several hours to overnight, until the insect is dead. Another method for killing the insect is to place the killing jar in the freezer for at least 24 hours. Note where and what date the insect was collected.
When the insect is dead, remove it from the jar, and carefully put a pin through the THORAX – (the section behind the head) just barely to the right of the midline. Try to do this soon after the insect is dead- if you wait days or weeks the insect may dry out too much, and be too brittle to pin. If this happens, refer to the relaxer method, used for spreading butterfly wings, below.
Please don’t wait until school starts to work on this, or you will have a hard time finding 20 specimens. For more information check the 6th grade page on Mrs. M’s Science page on the St. Matt’s page. (www.stmattsaints.org- click on Students, then on Mrs M’s Science Page). Or call me at 261-0153 or email tech@stmattsaints.org
Make a label on a small piece of paper and label the insect’s common name if you know it, and where and what date it was collected. If you are able to identify the insect, put the scientific name on the tag. If not, we will work on identifying the insects in class this September. Pin the tag directly below the insect in the box.
Pin a moth ball in the box to keep other bugs from eating your collection. If your insects are large, it is ok to use 2 boxes.
Moths and Butterflies need to have their wings spread- after you pin the body, use strips of paper to hold the wings in a spread-out position. Leave for 24 hours, when dried they will stay. Sometimes an insect gets too dried out to pin or spread without damaging the specimen. If this happens, turn one of your killing jars into a relaxing jar by putting a slightly damp (with water) cotton ball in the jar instead of the nail polish remover. Place the (dead) insect in the jar, and let it sit for about 24 hours. Remove from jar and pin or spread wings.
