Collecting and Identifying Insects

Photos of vials, insects and collecting equipment

Basic equipment for collecting bugs:  

1. Vials filled with water and 75% diluted rubbing alcohol. Note the insects colors before placing them in containers, since the specimens will fade over time.                     
2. Small pre-cut note cards for collecting data to put inside the vials.                                     
3. Tweezers to pick up samples.                                                                                         
4. Magnifying glass.                                                                                                              
5. Small aquarium net to collect air-borne insects.                                                              
6. Small white plastic 4 to 6 inch pan to hold insects for observation.                                 
7. Small plastic 2 x 3 boxes for keeping live insects.                                                            
8. Kick net or hand screen. These devices will help you collect insects for the substrate by moving rock, gravel and vegetation.                                                                           
9. Stream diary to record hatches, weather conditions and effective flies.                          
10. A good book to help identify insects such as Western Hatches, by Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes or a manual that lists hatch charts.  

For more information on entomology see pages 188-190 in my new book, The Practical Fly Fisher.