4-H INSECT PROJECT. Some manuals are used more than one year. An additional copy will cost $1.00.

Transcription

1 4-H INSECT PROJECT Some manuals are used more than one year. An additional copy will cost $1.00. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

2 Revised 10/2000

3 Ideas for Educational Boxes You are encouraged to think up your own topic for your educational box. Your project manual has many insect-related activities, facts, or collections supplies that could make an interesting educational box. Some of the ideas listed below might also be of interest to you: A life history display showing the stages of development of one or more insects. A collection of insect larvae and/or nymphs. Insects grouped and displayed according to whether they are destructive, beneficial, or of no economic importance A collection showing the diversity of an order of insects. Introduced insects (such as gypsy moths) with information about the problems they can cause and steps being taken to control. A display of odd or unusual appearing insects. A display showing how insects can be imbedded in plastic. A display of insect parasites and predators. Examples of insect damage, possibly displayed with the insect that caused the damage. A display of sound producing insects showing where the sound organs are located and how they work. A collection of insects that serve as food for fish A collection of insect eggs A collection of insect diversity (color variations, etc.) A display of insects that carry or spread animal and/or plant diseases A collection of insect pupae A collection of the relatives of insects showing how they differ from insects. A display in miniature of insect collecting equipment. A display of insecticides showing their properties and/or principal uses. A display designed to show the abundance of insects compared with other living things. Charts or graphs showing the seasonable abundance of one or more insects. A display showing the results of insect control. A display showing protective forms and coloration possessed by insects. A display designed to explain how insects are classified. Insect art work Insect information on the Internet A display showing how to use insecticides safely. A display based on a study to determine one of the following: a. The number and kinds of insects that visit a certain flower in a given period of time. b. The effectiveness of a control measure. c. The amount of time an insect spends in each stage of development. d. The number of eggs laid by insects. e. The number of progeny produced by a pair of insects over their life time. f. The number and kinds of insects attracted to certain kinds of light 1

4 Resources o Insect mounting pins and vials for very small insects are available at Purdue University s Media Distribution Center (phone ) or from suppliers. o How to Study, Collect, Preserve, and Identify Insects, 4-H 764, is available from your county Extension office or from Purdue University s Education Store. The publication explains how to make a net, killing jar, spreading board, and collection box. It will help you to create your insect collection. You will find the following chapters: *Insect collecting equipment *Collection of insects (where to find them, How to collect and handle) *How to preserve insects *How to label specimens *How to display insects *How to place insects in boxes *How to rear insects *Hot to identify arthropods (Close relatives of insects) *Orders of insects *Where to get supplies *Reference books Many entomology items may be purchased from various sources. Contact your county Extension office. How To Make An Attractive Collection Only use undamaged specimens. Collect a variety of insects that show variations within an order. For example, grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids. Keep the collection in balance; do not have it topheavy with one order such as Lepidoptera. Spread the wings of Lepidoptera and Odonata correctly and uniformly. Arrange the legs of larger insects so that they are in a natural position. Be sure all insects are pinned correctly, are the same height on the pins, and are not crooked. Be as accurate as you can in identifying insects to common name and to family name where suggested. Use uniform labels placed the same height on the pins. Place common name labels low enough on the insect pins so that they are flat against the bottom of the display box. Remember that arrangement in the box is very important. If possible, group each order in a rectangular area below a single order label, arranging the specimens in neat, straight rows. Make display cases more attractive by finishing them with varnish or wax. Use a background color that shows your collection to its best advantage. White and light pastel shades of blue and green are all good. Arrange insects so that you can display the boxes on their sides. Do not re-label and use insects that have been in another person s collection. Do not purchase insects from supply houses. Judges can usually detect such specimens and may disqualify the entire collection. You can exhibit insects from another state if you collect them yourself and if you label them correctly as to state, county, and date. 2

5 EXHIBIT GUIDELINES You will need some equipment for assembling your collection. As a beginning insect collector you will need a net, killing jar, spreading board, insect mounting pins, and a box to display your insects in. An 18 x 24 inch box is required for the Indiana 4-H insect display. The publication How to Study, Collect, Preserve, and Identify Insects, 4-H 764, is available at your county Extension office. This booklet has a lot of specific information about insect collections that will help you build your collection. Each insect box must have a label with name, level, grade, and county. The label belongs in the lower right hand corner of the box. It may be attached to the (plexi) glass if there is not enough room inside. Youth in grades 4 and 5 will have an information card to complete and add to their collection box. Youth in grades 6 and up will not have an information card but must add a title of their choice. When exhibiting more than one box indicate the orders (for example box 1 of 3 boxes ). You do not need to repeat the title in boxes 2 and 3. Level 1, Grade 3 Collect ten different insects and pin or glue each insect within the circle on the special mounting card (4-H 12-20D). Fill out each card, including a statement telling something about the insect you collected. Display your collection in one standard insect box (18 x 24 inches, with a glass or Plexiglas top). Title your exhibit Insects We See. Example: 3

6 Level 1, Grade 4 Collect, properly mount, and label 20 different insects then arrange and pin them in one standard insect box. Label the parts of an insect on the card This is a Typical Insect (4-H F), and place this card in your box. Print the heading What is An Insect and include it in your box, too. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H 15-20E). Use recognized common names when possible. Label other specimens, beetle, moth, true bug, etc. You may empty and reuse your box and any insects that were not glued and are still in good shape, if you wish. Example: 4

7 Level 1, Grade 5 Collect, properly mount, and label 30 different insects then arrange and pin them in one box. Fill in the blanks on the card Types of Insect Mouth Parts (4-H 15-20G), and place this card in your box. Print the heading What Insects Eat and include it in your box, too. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H 15-20E). Identify each insect by common name (insect family common names such as: stink bug for Pentatomidae, blister beetle for Meloidae, bee for Apidae, or mucid fly for Musidae are acceptable). You may empty and reuse your box and any insects from previous collections. Example: 5

8 Level 2, Grade 6 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 40 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 6 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H B). Pin your insects in one or two boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H 15-20E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. Note: When you are in grade 6 and up you will no longer add an information card to your box, as you did for grades 3-5. Your exhibit will contain insects and the proper labeling information. Example: Level 2, Grade 7 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 50 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 8 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H B). Pin them in one or two boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. Level 2, Grade 8 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 60 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 10 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H B). Pin them in one or two boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H 15-20E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. As you continue with the entomology project you should continue to improve and enlarge your collection by adding new specimens and replacing damaged ones each year. Improve the mounting and labeling techniques, obtain a greater variety of insects and improve the arrangement in the boxes. You will need to be more careful about determining common names and accurate in arranging insects by family. You will prepare a new educational box each year. 6

9 Level 3, Grade 9 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 70 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 12 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H B). Pin them in up to three boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. In addition, prepare an educational display in one standard insect box. This display should teach the public something about insects that they probably do not already know. You may include insects in this box, if appropriate. Use descriptive statements, insects, and any other materials in any way that you think will teach the lesson you have in mind. Level 3, Grade 10 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 80 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 15 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H B). Pin them in up to three boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. In addition, prepare a new educational display in one standard insect box. This display should teach the public something about insects that they probably do not already know. You may include insects in this box, if appropriate. Use descriptive statements, insects, and any other materials in any way that you think will teach the lesson you have in mind. Level 3, Grade 11 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 90 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 15 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H 15-20B). Pin them in up to three boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H 15-20E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. In addition, prepare two educational displays in standard insect boxes. This display should teach the public something about insects that they probably do not already know. You may include insects in this box, if appropriate. Use descriptive statements, insects, and any other materials in any way that you think will teach the lesson you have in mind. One box may be either of the two educational boxes used for previous divisions. Label this box #1. The second box must be a new display based upon any subject except those that relate to the themes used for you educational boxes in earlier divisions. Label this box #2. Level 3, Grade 12 Increase and improve your collection so that it contains 100 different insects each identified by order and common name. You must collect a minimum of 15 different orders. Group your insects by order and specify the order name (use 4-H B). Pin them in up to three boxes. Provide a common name label for all specimens (4-H 15-20E). You may use insects collected in previous levels. 7

10 Prepare two educational boxes. Box #1 may be any of your previously prepared boxes. Box #2 must be a new box based upon a subject you have not used before. How To Make An Educational Box: Remember that the purpose of the educational box is to teach people something about insects that they probably do not already know. Refer to the score card which will show you the point value of things the judges consider when looking at your box. Do not try to teach more than one lesson with each box. Place a heading in the box and arrange materials so that anyone looking at the box can get the general idea of what it is all about at first glance. Prepare the display so that it will tell its story without too much reading. Do not expect anyone looking at the box to try to figure out what it means. Be sure your information is scientifically accurate. Try to be original. In advanced divisions try to base your display on individual study or research that you have personally carried out. Be neat and careful and try to make your workmanship of high quality. Dress up your display so that it has eye appeal. 8

11 Insect Project Record Sheet 4-H-763C-W Name Grade Year Name of Club Year in Entomology project I have reviewed this record and believe it to be correct. Signature of Leader Date Fill in this record sheet by answering the following questions. Keep this record sheet in your 4-H record book. 1. List the activities that you completed this year in your project manual (title and page number):

12 2. Did you make an educational poster? yes no If yes, what was the theme of your poster? Sketch how your poster looked: 3. Did you exhibit an insect collection? yes no If yes: a) How many insects did you display? b) Which is your favorite insect? c) Why is that your favorite insect? 4. Why is knowing about insects important? It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.