Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet

Entomology

1991 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1000

Entomological Supplies and Reference Books

HYG-2120-95

Often it is helpful to collect, preserve, identify and display insect and mite pests. Handling these specimens efficiently requires access to certain basic entomological supplies and equipment.

List of Entomological Supplies and Equipment Needed

1. Large wide-mouth insect-killing jar with a screw cap. (Prevent breaking by wrapping several layers of masking tape around the base.)
2. Pocket-size insect-killing jar for small insects such as beetles, bugs, etc.
3. Chemicals for use in making killing jars (ethyl acetate - also called acetic ether - or fingernail polish remover).
4. Well-constructed insect sweep net, preferably 15 inches in diameter.
5. Three large and three small insect display boxes.
6. Five to ten Riker mounts for use in displaying insects of special importance.
7. Insect pins-a package (100 pins) of No. 3 pins for pinning small and medium insects, and a package (100 pins) of No. 4 pins for pinning large insects.
8. Cardboard mounting points (100) and a bottle of clear fingernail polish for pinning small adult insects such as mosquitoes and flea beetles.
9. One pair of large forceps and a pair of small forceps for handling insects and spiders.
10. Insect-pinning block with holes 1, 5/8 and 3/8 inch deep.
11. Sheet of labels (100 or more).
12. Bottle of India ink and a crow quill pen for making labels.
13. Small camel hair brush for picking up mites and tiny insects such as aphids and thrips.
14. Three to four dozen small alcohol vials (2 dram or 4 dram size with screw cap lids) for collecting and preserving mites, small insects such as lice and fleas, and soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars and aphids.
15. One quart of 70 percent ethyl alcohol.
16. Two or more medicine droppers.
17. Hand lens, 10X to 16X power.
18. One dozen shipping cans or boxes, plus shipping labels.
19. Manual on how to collect, pin and label insects.
20. Three or four standard entomology reference manuals, including keys to immature insects and spiders.
21. Naphthalene flakes or paradichlorobenzene crystals for keeping dermestid beetles from destroying mounted insect specimens.
22. Beating sheet for collecting insects inhabiting shrubbery.
23. Binocular dissecting scope (stereomicroscope with magnifications from about 10X to 40X).
24. Sturdy, dependable, bright microscope lamp.

Sources of Entomological Supplies and Equipment

Young Entomologists' Society (Y.E.S.)
1915 Peggy Place
Lansing, MI 49810-2533
Telephone (517)887-0499
Can order insect pins, magnifying glasses and other supplies from them. (Write for catalog.)

Ohio Lepidopterology Society
c/o John M. Gilligan
16721 County Road 109 Arcadia, OH 44804
Telephone (419)894-6554
Can order supplies and insect pins as follows:
Elephant Brand
Sizes 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4
$5.05 per 100 pins
Ohio residents add 5.5% Sales Tax

Australian Entomological Supplies Pty.Ltd.
P.O. Box 250, Bangalow N.S.W. 2479 Australia Local (02) 6684 7650
International Tel. +61 (2) 6684 7650
Facsimile +61 (2) 6684 7188

Bio Quip Products, Inc.
17803 LaSalle Avenue
Gardena, CA 90248-3602
Telephone (310)324-0620
FAX (310)324-7931
e-mail: bioquip@aol.com
Can order small alcohol vials and other supplies from them.
(Write for catalog.)

Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Inc.
New York (800)962-2600
(Will accept individual orders with credit cards)

Carolina Biological Supply Co.
North Carolina (800)334-5551
(Will accept individual orders with charge card or money order)

American Biological Supply
1330 Dillon Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21228
(No longer listed by telephone company)

Helpful Entomological Reference Books

Insect Pests Of Farm, Garden And Orchard - Davidson & Lyon,8th Edition,1987, Hardback $58.50, Wiley ISBN 0-471-01124-X.

Managing Turfgrass Pests - Watschke, Dernoeden, Shetlar, 1995, Hardback $69.95, Lewis Publishers ISBN 0-87371-999-9

Controlling Vegetable Pests - C. Putnam, Ortho Books, 1991, $11.95, 160 pp.

Golden Guide, from Golden Press/Western Publishing Co.:

Insect Pests - Fichter, 1966, Paperback $3.95 ISBN 0-307-24016-9

Insects - Zim 1977, Paperback $2.95, ISBN 0-307-24492-X

Butterflies And Moths - Mitchell 1977, Paperback $2.95, ISBN 0-307-24413-X

Spiders And; Their Kin - Levi 1969, Paperback $5.95, ISBN 0-307-24021-5

Audubon Society Guide To North American Insects And Spiders - Milne & Milne, 1980, Cloth $19.00, ISBN 0-394-50763-0

Audubon Society Guide To North American Butterflies - Pyle, 1981, Paperback $19.00, ISBN 0-394-51914-0, Knope/Random House

Simon And Schuster Guide To Insects -Arnet, 1981, Paperback $15.00, ISBN 0-671- 25014-0

Insects Of America North Of Mexico - Borror, 1974, Paperback $15.95 ISBN 0-395- 18523-8

Introduction To The Study Of Insects - Borror, DeLong & Triplehorn, 5th Edition, 1981, NEP 1988, Hardback $48.50, Holt, Rinehart, Winston ISBN 0-03-043531-5 O.P.

Beetles - Arnet, 2nd Edition, 1980, $15.95 ISBN 0-697-04776-8

Spiders - Kaston, 3rd Edition, 1978, $15.95 ISBN 0-697-04898-5 O.P.

Aquatic Insects - Lehmkuhl, 1979, $15.95 ISBN 0-697-04767-9

Mites And Ticks - McDaniel 1979, $15.95 ISBN 0-697-04757-1 O.P.

Immature Insects - Chu, 1949, $15.95 ISBN 0-697-04806-3

Insects - Bland, 1978, $15.95, ISBN 0-697-04752-0

Butterflies - Out of print

Larvae Of Insects - Alvah Peterson; Part I: Lepidoptera & Hymenoptera; Part II: Coleoptera, Diptera, Neuroptera, Siphonaptera, Mecoptera, Trichoptera; Hardback $40.00 for set. Available from: Mrs. Alvah Peterson, 2039 Collingswood Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221, telephone 614-488-4054

Immature Insects - Frederick W. Stehr, 1st Edition, Vol. 1, 1995, $129.95, Kendall/Hunt, ISBN-0-8403-3702-7

Immature Insects - Frederick w. Stehr, 1st Edition, Vol. 2, 1991, $229.95, Kendall/Hunt, ISBN 0-8403-4639-5

Moths Of Eastern North America - Covell 1984, Hardback $19.95, ISBN 0-395-26056- 6, Paperback $15.95 ISBN 0-395-36100-1

Beetles Of North America - White 1983, Hardback $21.95, ISBN 0-395-31808-4, Paperback $16.95 ISBN 0-395-33953-7

Destructive And Useful Insects - Metcalf, Flint & Metcalf, 1992 Edition, Hardback $88.50, ISBN 0-07-041692-3, McGraw Hill

Insects That Feed On Trees And Shrubs - Johnson & Lyon, 1988, Hardback $56.50 ISBN 0-8014-2602-2, Cornell Univ. Press

Eastern Butterflies (pap), $16.95, 0-395-63279-X.

Butterflies Of North America East Of The Great Plains - Klots, 1977, Hardback $15.95, ISBN 0-395-07865-2, Paperback $7.95 ISBN 0-395-25859-6 O.P.

Common Insects Of North America - Swan & Papp, Out of print. Harper & Row

Handbook Of Pest Control - Mallis 6th, 1990, Hardback, $89.00, ISBN 0-317-99622- 3, Franzak & Foster

Scientific Guide To Pest Control - Truman, Bennett & Butts, 4th Edition, 1988, Hardback $49.95, Purdue University Office of Continuing Education, telephone 317-494-6315

Plant Galls And Gall Inducers - Meyer Tr. by Cheskin from Fr. 1987, Hardback $111.00, ISBN 3-443-01023-7 Lubrecht & Cramer

Plant Galls And Gall Makers - Felt - Out of Print

Common Names Of Insects And Related Organisms - Floyd Werner, 1989, Paperback $35.00,ISBN 0-938522-34-5, Entomological Society

Diseases And Pests Of Ornamental Plants -Pascal P. Pirone 5th Edition 1978, Hardback $69.95 ISBN 0-471-07249-4 Wiley

The Gardners Bug Book - Westcott - Out of print

Color Handbook Of Garden Insects - Carr, out of print

These reference books may be purchased through The Ohio State University Bookstore, Main Store/Headquarters, 2009 Millikin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1269 Telephone 614-292-2991 Fax 614-292-8983.