Pinned beetles in a collection box (Coleoptera).
New page up in the techniques section. Please check out my “Tools for Insect Collecting.”
For the novice bug enthusiast interested in starting an insect collection the options and information available can be bewildering. Luckily, the hobby is easier (and cheaper) than it might seem. Here’s my two-cents worth on the best tools to get you started.
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For more techniques for insect collection and rearing, visit the techniques section.
6legs2many 
What kind of data do people like to put on their pins? I have species, plant, date and time of day on my labels, but is there anything else you can add?
Hey Jason,
You can find detailed information on how to format locality labels and ID labels on some of the collection guides I mentioned.
In general, you include Country:State:County, a specific locality (i.e. city), date, and collector’s name, and then a fifth line might have optional information about where and how you collected it. So, yes, host plant, collection method, general habitat and even possibly time of day and weather may be worthwhile to include.
Generally ID is put on a separate label just under the locality label– this is because species classifications can change over time (and thus you may want to change the label) but the locality information will never change.
Hope this helps! 🙂
-Alison
hey,
I was just wondering if you could tell me what beetle this is
https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=eac3e2e210&view=att&th=13ba4dcc2769b6c4&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P-2eh0z7Nhw2o-OaeLO9c2q&sadet=1355730673511&sads=MZD4K3L0mOUNSCziF_iJQMVxTDc
sorry for the long url, please let me know.
I’m sorry, but that link doesn’t work for me. I’d recommend uploading it to Bugguide, or you’re welcome to email me.