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How to Kill Bugs for a Collection

An insect collection allows you to closely examine the structures of insects' bodies and share them with others. Once you catch the insects for your collection, you need to kill them in a nonviolent way to minimize trauma and preserve their bodies. You must avoid crushing any part of the insects' bodies so as not to destroy the structures. With well-preserved bodies, you can create a collection of insects with identifiable structures.

Things You'll Need

Wide-mouthed jar with tight-fitting lid
Newspaper
Pencil
Scissors
Nail polish remover
Zipper-sealed plastic bags

Instructions

Killing Jar
- 1
  Lay the jar lid on the newspaper and trace a circle around the lid using a pencil. Continue tracing circles over the entire surface of the newspaper.
- 2
  Cut out the circles with scissors.
- 3
  Push the circles into the bottom of the jar so that they lay flat. Continue to layer the paper circles until you form a layer of paper that is 1/3-inch deep.
- 4
  Pour nail polish remover into the jar slowly until the newspaper is completely saturated. Pour any liquid that is not absorbed by the newspaper back into the container of nail polish remover.
- 5
  Add loose strips of torn newspaper to the jar. The torn newspaper gives the insects a place to hide so that they will not thrash around.
- 6
  Place the insects in the jar and close the lid tightly. Leave the insects in the jar for at least 20 minutes before removing them.
Freezing
- 7
  Place each insect in a zipper-sealed plastic bag as you collect it and seal the bag, trapping the insect inside.
- 8
  Place the bags containing the insects in the freezer and leave inside for at least three hours.
- 9
  Remove the bags from the freezer. Thaw out the insects for five minutes before removing them from the bags.

Insects & Science