How to submit insect specimens for identification

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Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3 Western Australia, Series 3

Volume 5

Number 1 January-February, 1956 Article 23

1-1956

How to submit insect specimens for identification How to submit insect specimens for identification

C. F. H. Jenkins

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation

Jenkins, C. F. H. (1956) "How to submit insect specimens for identification," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3: Vol. 5: No. 1, Article 23.

Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture3/vol5/iss1/23

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HOW TO SUBMIT INSECT SPECIMENS FOR IDENTIFICATION

By C. F. H. JENKINS, M.A., Government Entomologist

F

ROM time to time most farmers and orchardists come across insects or other small creatures which they have not seen before and about which they would like some information. I get numerous queries about such creatures and am always glad to help, but sometimes the task is made unnecessarily difficult. The most detailed description

of a caterpillar or a beetle given by letter is often quite useless as many of t h e most important features from t h e scientific point of view may be omitted.

The same criticism applies to pencil sketches, whatever t h e artistic merit may be of t h e particular contribution. When it is realised t h a t about one millon differ- ent kinds of insects have already been officially named a n d t h a t about half a million more are waiting to be classified, it is obvious t h a t all too many of them must be superficially a t least very similar.

Whenever inquiries are being made about even t h e commonest of insects, specimens should always be forwarded.

The difficulties which can arise when there is no specimen to clarify t h e question will be seen from t h e following ex- ample. Some time ago, a short note was received saying, "Please give me some i n - formation about the control of red spider."

There were no specimens and no details about t h e crop being attacked. There is a common summer pest of vegetables known popularly as t h e red spider, but as this query came in t h e winter time I was r a t h e r suspicious t h a t the red-legged e a r t h mite was t h e actual pest in question.

There are four types of mites which are sometimes loosely referred to as either red spiders or red mites and, of course, without some further clue it is difficult to give information about control measures.

The red-legged e a r t h mite is well known to all as a winter pest of clover a n d other legumes. The true red spider, as already mentioned, is a common summer pest of various cultivated p l a n t s . Then there is the bryobia mite or red mite of t h e apple grower and, lastly, t h e r e is t h e red mite of poultry. So it is obvious t h a t a short

note asking for information about either the red mite or the red spider without either specimens or some explanatory details, can prove very baffling, not only to the recipient but the inquirer if h e gets the wrong answer.

In t h e case of fully m a t u r e insects, some dead specimens in a small box will usually prove adequate. For preference, they should be wrapped or padded with tissue paper to stop t h e m from rattling about and losing their limbs. On no account should they be wrapped in cotton wool as the legs and feelers become so entangled t h a t casualties are almost inevitable when the specimens are being unpacked.

Where caterpillars are concerned, these should be forwarded alive, if possible, with a quantity of t h e food plant. I t is often very difficult to accurately identify c a t e r - pillars but if they can be reared t o maturity t h e task is much easier.

On no account should insects alive or dead (especially if they are r a t h e r fleshy) be forwarded in closely sealed tins or bottles. Even in cold weather they are often too decomposed to identify a n d in the summer t h e aromas which quite small insects can produce after being sealed u p for a while must be experienced to be fully appreciated. A cardboard box is usually a satisfactory container, especially when caterpillars and food plants are involved.

Some specimens, especially very small ones, can be safely forwarded in m e t h y - lated spirits or formalin but bottles should be carefully packed to avoid breakage.

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Journal of agriculture Vol. 5 1956

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I n this short t a l k I have not given any details concerning t h e preservation of insects where a p e r m a n e n t collection is r e - quired.

T h e n u m b e r of farmers interested in t h i s aspect of entomology is probably r a t h e r small, a n d those with sufficient m o r a l courage to face the world with a n open butterfly n e t are probably even fewer.

To summarise them, it should be r e - membered t h a t when information is w a n t e d about any creature, several speci- m e n s should be sent if a t all possible. Full p a r t i c u l a r s should also be given as to the prevalence of t h e insect, where it was found, a n d t h e type of damage it was do- ing. The n a m e a n d address of the sender

FOOTROT IN SHEEP

Encouraging Reports from Bridgetown

An encouraging feature of t h e campaign against footrot in sheep h a d been t h e success achieved in eradicating the disease from a number of flocks in t h e Bridgetown area, said Chief Veterinary Surgeon of t h e Depart- m e n t of Agriculture, Mr. C. R. Toop, recently.

T h e Bridgetown district with its high rainfall a n d lush pastures offers almost ideal conditions under which the footrot germs could flourish, said Mr. Toop, a n d control was apt to be difficult because of t h e diversified n a t u r e of farming in those areas.

Where farmers were engaged simultaneously in fruit a n d vegetable growing, dairying, beef production and other activities in addition to sheep- raising, t h e task of controlling sheep diseases was made more difficult because of t h e limited time available for flock care.

Nevertheless, of 180 properties quarantined for footrot since 1949, 142 have now been released as footrot-free and 32 of t h e 38 still in quarantine are applying approved control measures and appear likely to eradicate t h e disease in due course.

T h e large n u m b e r of successful clearances achieved in t h e current season, which h a d favoured t h e spread of footrot, was most encouraging a n d reflected great credit upon t h e District Stock Inspector, Mr. J. R. Black- burn, and his two assistants who h a d been specially appointed to the district u n d e r t h e Commonwealth Extension Services G r a n t .

Their h a r d work a n d a generous measure of co-operation from the local farmers h a d made possible a highly encouraging degree of control under difficult seasonal and climatic conditions.

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should accompany t h e specimens even if a covering letter has been forwarded in- dependently.

And, lastly, may I emphasise t h a t whenever you see a strange insect about which you have any suspicions, don't hesitate to send in a n inquiry. Many of our major pests were introduced from abroad and became firmly established before their presence was realised. The sooner a new- comer is recognised, t h e sooner action can be t a k e n against it. We have failed to keep out m a n y pests but prompt action h a s saved t h e State from m a n y others, a n d t h e co-operation of t h e farmer and t h e orchardist are of prime importance in this regard.

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