Catching Insects
In order to create a collection, insects must first be caught. There are several methods to do this, the easiest would be using a net. A net can be fashioned out of a wir coat hanger and a plastic bag. Bend the coat hanger into an oval and staple the plastic bag around the opening to create a plastic net.

Another method of catching insects involves using a light at night. Turn on your porch light at dusk, wait a few hours then catch any flying insects.

Killing Insects
Place the insect in the kill jar, soak a cotton ball wiht nail polish remover, and place in jar. Screw the lid on tight, and wait a few hours. The fumes will humanily kill the insect. The insect will not suffer any pain through this procedure. Once the insect is dead dump out the insects onto the styrofoam. Be careful not to mix the nail polish remover with the styrofoam, as the two will react chemically!

Mounting Insects
Lay the insect right side up on the styrofoam. Drive the pin straight down through the thorax (middle body section). This is the main pin that the insect will rest on. Using additional pins position the body, legs, wings, etc... into a natural position. Let the insect dry in this position overnight. Remove the extra pins and pull the main pin out of the styrofoam so that the insect resides in the middle of the pin, up in the air. Place the correct label on the pin underneath the insect.

Insect Report
An alternative assignment is to choose one insect and write a 1-2 page report on that insect. The report should include the following topics;
1) Scientific name
2) Common name
3) Order
4) Habitat
5) Disribution and population throughout the world
6) Common identifiers
7) Eating and mating habits
8) Interesting facts about the insect