To be useful to the entomologist and others interested in the scientific
relations of insects, as well as to furnish the collector with a
complete record of his hours in the field and make more valuable the
work he has already accomplished, the specimens should be labeled. The
important information to be put on the label of each specimen is the
locality and date of capture, but greater scientific value will be
attached to the specimen by adding the name of the collector and the
host on which the insect was found, or the particular habitat in which
the insect was caught.
Labels should be made of a good grade of white paper stiff enough to
stay flat when pierced and pushed up the pins. A very satisfactory high
quality paper is available under the name "substance 36 ledger." The
labels may be printed by hand with a crow-quill pen and black India ink,
or they may be purchased completely or partially printed from a
biological supply house. They should be as small as possible and of
nearly uniform size. They should be pushed up the pins, fig. 14, not too
near the specimens, and they should project from the pins in the same
direction as the specimens. To keep the labels small, yet to include all
desirable information, it is often well to record the locality,
collection date, and collector on one label, and the host plant or other
pertinent information on a second label, fig. 14.
When the specimen is identified, its name should be recorded on still
another label, which should be kept low on the pin. Sample
identification labels are illustrated by the bottom labels in fig. 14.