Article beginning on page 63.
Psyche 8:63, 1897.

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May 1897.1 PSYCHE.
ON MOUNTING MINUTE INSECTS, PARTICULARLY MICRO-D~PTERA.
BY CARL F. BAKER, AUBUKN, ALA.
There has been, in the past, a great
lack of uniformity in the mounting of
minute insects. I believe the subject
one demanding the earnest attention, of
collectors. Probably nothing adds more
to the appearance of a collection than a uniform style of mounting, and also,
nothing is more difficult to maintain
(under the present order of things) in
the building up of a large collection by accessions from other collections. Fur-
ther, the usefulness of what is intended for a worlting collcction depends almost entirely on the manner of mounting.
In a lot of minute insects recently re-
ceived from Europe, over a dozen dif-
ferent styles of mounting (all on pins)
were represented, and not one was
adapted to a rapid and satisfactory
examination of the insect. For certain
very essential characters remounting
was necessary.
In Coleoptera, Heiniptera, and I-Iy-
inenoptera, during the past few years,
the mounting has become much more
uniform in this country, the triangular
slip of cardboard being used almost
exclusively. Unfortunately there has
been the greatest variation in size of
slip, and manner of placing specimen
on same. The most satisfactory size
and shape seems to be that recom-
mended by Riley, and I believe this
should be adopted by all American col-
lectors. With a little practice these
can be very rapidly cut by hand from
strips of cardboard of the standard
width. In hand cut slips there will be
a very convenient variation in size of
point. With the slips should be used at
least a No. 2 pin -preferably Klaeger.
There is nothing gained by the use of
very slender, easily bent pins, and they are extremely exhausting to the patience. So trying to me are these very slender
pins that I never use them except with
Micro-lepidoptera, to slick into pith
mounted on a heavier pin.
Holding the pin in the hand, slip
pointing to the left, the mounted insect should always have the head directed
away from the operator, and be evenly
saddled on the extreme point of the
slip, at right angles to both slip and
pin. Specimens are usually better
mounted with the back straight up, the
slip point glued to one side of the ven- tral surface. This will allow a ready
examination of any portion of the body
with a 4 or objective, provided the
standard length of slip is used. If a
good glue (like fish-glue) of the right
consistency is used there will be no
trouble with specimens falling 0% A
moderately thin solution of white shel-
lac in alcohol has best served my
purposes. It should be remembered
that the most important characters in




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64 P.9 7 CHI%. May 1897.
Coleoptera are ventral, in Hymenoptera
dorsal, and in Hemiptera both dorsal
and ventral.
Not only has this method been found
to answer every purpose (both as to
ntility, and beauty also -if neatly done) in connection with the preservation and
study of material in Coleoptcra, Hemip-
tera, and Hymenoptera, but it is a far
more rapid method for the minute
things than any other, and American
workers have no time to waste. I
would like to ask why this method can-
not be used for Micro-diptera?
I can
see nothing to be gained by adhering to
the old methods of pinning, that in
which the cork and pith blocks are
used requiring the expenditure of too
great an amount of time. Up to a very
recent date most dipterists have insisted that it was absolutely necessary to pin
all Diptera, yet in no case at hand can
I find a good reason given. On the
contrary one of our best dipterists
lately informed me that in future he
wished the micros all mounted on slips.
I use the moderately thin shellac glue
and have had no trouble with specimens
falling oft'. On the other hand, speci-
mens on the little pins in pith often
come loose and swing about, standing
at all angles and ruining the appearance of the collection. Not only is there a
great saving of time in mounting on
slips, but there is far less injury to the specimen than in pinning, and it is
much more readily manipulated under
the microscope. I have used this method
in my own collection for some time and
think myself justified in recommending
it to American collectors, though it
would undoubtedly horrify our patient
and long-suffering European brethren.
Many of us would be very glad to hear
from the dipterists regarding this matter. However, before any definite opinion is
rendered, specimens correctly mounted
by this method should be carefully exam- ined. I will gladly loan such specimens
fiom my own collection to any one will-
ing to pay postage on same.
NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND ACR1DIDAE.-111. 0EDIPODINAE.-IV. BY ALBERT P. MORSE, WELLESLEY, MASS.
12. CHOKTOPHAGA Sauss.
Chortn/haAp Sanssure 1884. Pro-
dron~us Oedipodiorum, 43, 72.
18. Chortophaga viridifasciata DeG.
Figs. 18, 18a.
Acrydium viridifasciatum. De-
Gees, Memoires d. Ins., iii, 498, pi.
42, fig. 6 (1773) -
Locusta ( Tragocephala) viridij'as-
data. Harris, 181.
Locusts ( Tragocephala) infuscata.
Harris, 182.
Locusta ( Tragocephala) radiata.
Harris, 183.
Tragoce/hala infuscata. Scudder,
461 ; Thomas, 102.
Tragocephala viridifasciata. Scud-




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