採集與保存標本

以博物館級準則採集並保存昆蟲標本，供分類研究、參考收藏、生態研究之用。

適用時機

• 需實體標本以作明確分類鑑定
• 為某棲地、區域或類群建參考收藏
• 為已發表之生態研究保存憑證標本
• 需送標本予分類專家以鑑定
• 理或修既有之昆蟲收藏

輸入

• 必要：於擬採地合法採集之授權（許可、地主同意）
• 必要：適於目標類群之採集器具
• 必要：保存材料（針、乙醇或兩者）
• 必要：標籤材料（檔案紙、細筆或印表機）
• 選擇性：鱗翅目與蜻蜓目之展翅板、鬆弛室、解剖鏡、資料庫、單元盤與貯藏櫃

步驟

步驟一：驗法律要件

採集前，確已有於該地採集之合法權，且目標類群未受保護。

FUNDAMENTAL RULE:
Never collect without proper authorization. Never collect from
protected areas without explicit permits. Never collect protected
species. The scientific value of a specimen is zero if it was
collected illegally — it cannot be published, deposited in a
museum, or used in formal research.

Legal Checklist:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Requirement        | Verify                                   |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Land access        | Written permission from landowner, or    |
|                    | site is publicly accessible for          |
|                    | collecting (many parks prohibit it)      |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Collection permit  | Required for most public lands, nature   |
|                    | reserves, national parks. Apply through  |
|                    | the managing agency. Specify taxa,       |
|                    | methods, dates, and quantities.          |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Protected species  | Check national and regional red lists,   |
|                    | CITES appendices, and local endangered   |
|                    | species legislation. Some butterflies,   |
|                    | beetles, and dragonflies are protected.  |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Export/import      | Moving specimens across international    |
|                    | borders requires phytosanitary           |
|                    | certificates and may require CITES       |
|                    | permits depending on the taxon.          |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Institutional      | If collecting for an institution, follow |
| protocols          | their collection policy and ethics       |
|                    | review requirements.                     |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

Minimizing Collection Impact:
- Collect only the minimum number of specimens needed
- Avoid collecting from small or isolated populations
- Do not collect gravid (egg-bearing) females if population is small
- Record the abundance at the site — if the species appears rare, photograph instead
- Prefer common and abundant species for teaching collections

預期： 所有必需之許可已得，受保護物種名單已查，採集者明於該地可採與不可採者。

失敗時： 若不能得許可，勿採。於原地拍攝標本並用公民科學平台鑑定。若採得者為受保護物種，即諮野生動物主管。勿棄標本——意外採集宜報非隱。

步驟二：擇採集法

擇合目標類群、棲地、研究目的之法。不同法取昆蟲群落之不同部分。

Collection Methods:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Method             | Best For                                 |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Sweep net          | Flying and vegetation-dwelling insects    |
|                    | in grasslands, meadows, and low shrubs.  |
|                    | Technique: sweep in a figure-8 pattern   |
|                    | through vegetation; empty net into a     |
|                    | killing jar or collecting bag after      |
|                    | every 10-20 sweeps.                      |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Beating tray       | Arboreal insects on trees and shrubs.    |
|                    | Hold a white sheet or tray under a       |
|                    | branch; strike the branch sharply 3-5    |
|                    | times; collect dislodged insects with    |
|                    | an aspirator or forceps.                 |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Pitfall trap       | Ground-dwelling insects (beetles,        |
|                    | ants, crickets). Bury a cup flush with   |
|                    | the soil surface. Add a rain cover.      |
|                    | Check every 24-48 hours. Use propylene   |
|                    | glycol as preservative (non-toxic to     |
|                    | mammals; do not use ethylene glycol).    |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Light trap         | Nocturnal flying insects (moths, many    |
|                    | beetles, lacewings). Use a white sheet   |
|                    | illuminated by a mercury vapor or UV     |
|                    | light. Operate from dusk to midnight     |
|                    | or dawn. Most effective on warm, humid,  |
|                    | moonless nights.                         |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Malaise trap       | Flying insects, especially Hymenoptera   |
|                    | and Diptera. A tent-like mesh barrier    |
|                    | that intercepts insects in flight;       |
|                    | they walk upward into a collecting head  |
|                    | containing preservative. Runs            |
|                    | continuously; check weekly.              |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Aspirator (pooter) | Small, delicate insects that cannot be   |
|                    | handled with forceps. Suck the insect    |
|                    | into a vial through a tube (a mesh      |
|                    | filter prevents inhalation). Use only    |
|                    | mouth-operated aspirators with a filter. |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Pan trap           | Pollinators and small flying insects.    |
|                    | Colored bowls (yellow, white, blue)      |
|                    | filled with soapy water. Place at        |
|                    | vegetation height. The soap breaks       |
|                    | surface tension; insects fall in and     |
|                    | drown. Check every 24-48 hours.          |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Hand collection    | Large, slow, or sessile insects.         |
|                    | Pick directly with forceps or fingers.   |
|                    | Useful for bark-dwelling beetles,        |
|                    | caterpillars on host plants, aquatic     |
|                    | larvae under rocks.                      |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

預期： 據目標類群與棲地擇一或多採集法，器具已組備於入野前。

失敗時： 若擬用之法未得標本（如大雨中揮網），改用他法。光誘捕需特定氣候——暖、濕、靜、無月之夜最宜。氣候不佳則另排期勝於效差之設陷。

步驟三：以人道速處標本

採得之蟲宜速且人道處之。久困損標本（斷足、失鱗）且倫理不容。

Dispatch Methods:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Method             | Procedure and Notes                      |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Ethyl acetate      | Place a wad of absorbent material        |
| killing jar        | (plaster of Paris or tissue) in the      |
|                    | bottom of a wide-mouth jar. Saturate     |
|                    | with ethyl acetate. Place insects in     |
|                    | the jar; death occurs within 1-5        |
|                    | minutes for most species.                |
|                    | Caution: ethyl acetate is flammable and  |
|                    | an irritant. Use in well-ventilated     |
|                    | areas. Do not inhale.                    |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Freezing           | Place live insects in a container in a   |
|                    | freezer at -20C for 24 hours. Suitable   |
|                    | for specimens brought back alive.        |
|                    | Produces well-relaxed specimens ideal    |
|                    | for pinning.                             |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Ethanol drowning   | Immerse directly in 70-95% ethanol.      |
|                    | Used for soft-bodied insects that will   |
|                    | be wet-preserved (larvae, aphids, small  |
|                    | Diptera). Not suitable for Lepidoptera   |
|                    | (destroys scales) or specimens intended  |
|                    | for dry pinning.                         |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

NEVER use:
- Cyanide jars (potassium cyanide) — extremely toxic to humans;
  obsolete in modern entomology
- Crushing or squeezing — destroys morphological features
- Prolonged suffocation — slow and damages specimens from struggling

預期： 標本速處（數分鐘內）且形態特徵受損最少。鱗翅目分置以防觸他標本而失鱗。

失敗時： 若無乙酸乙酯，冷凍為多數類群之佳代。野外二者皆無時，將標本置於個別小瓶或信封（鱗翅目以玻璃紙信封收翅），歸來即凍。勿將活蟲置於無致死劑之封閉容器——其必自損。

步驟四：針固標本（乾保存）

針每標本穿其目之正確位。正確之針位於診斷特徵之存取與長期結構完整皆為必需。

Pin Placement by Order:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Order              | Pin Position                             |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Coleoptera         | Through the RIGHT ELYTRON (front wing    |
| (beetles)          | cover), approximately 1/3 from the       |
|                    | anterior edge, so the pin emerges        |
|                    | between the middle and hind legs.        |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Lepidoptera        | Through the CENTER OF THE THORAX         |
| (butterflies/moths)| (mesothorax), between the wing bases.    |
|                    | Wings must be spread on a spreading      |
|                    | board before the specimen dries.         |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Hymenoptera        | Through the RIGHT SIDE OF THE THORAX     |
| (bees/wasps/ants)  | (mesothorax), between the wing bases.    |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Diptera            | Through the RIGHT SIDE OF THE THORAX     |
| (flies)            | (mesothorax), between the wing bases.    |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Hemiptera          | Through the RIGHT SIDE OF THE            |
| (true bugs)        | SCUTELLUM (triangular plate between      |
|                    | wing bases), slightly to the right of    |
|                    | center.                                  |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Orthoptera         | Through the RIGHT SIDE OF THE            |
| (grasshoppers)     | PRONOTUM (just behind the head), to      |
|                    | the right of the midline.                |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Odonata            | Through the CENTER OF THE THORAX.        |
| (dragonflies)      | Wings must be spread. Alternatively,     |
|                    | store in glassine envelopes.             |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| All other orders   | Through the RIGHT SIDE OF THE THORAX     |
|                    | unless order-specific guidance is        |
|                    | available.                               |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

Pin Selection:
- Standard entomological pins: stainless steel, sizes 0-7
- Size 3 (0.50mm) is the most commonly used general-purpose size
- Size 1-2 for small beetles and flies; size 4-5 for large beetles
- Specimens under 5mm: mount on a paper point (triangular card
  glued to a standard pin) rather than pinning directly

Pin Height:
- The specimen should sit approximately 2/3 up the pin (leaving
  room below for 2 labels and above for handling)
- Use a pinning block (stepped block with 3 heights) to ensure
  consistent specimen and label heights across the collection

Spreading Wings (Lepidoptera, Odonata):
1. Pin the specimen through the thorax
2. Place on the spreading board with the body in the groove
3. Use paper strips to hold wings in position
4. Adjust wings so the hind margin of the forewing is perpendicular
   to the body axis
5. Leave on the board for 3-7 days until completely dry
6. Remove paper strips carefully

預期： 每標本針穿其目之正確位，於正確高度，需展翅者（鱗翅目、蜻蜓目）已展翅。標本完全乾前勿動。

失敗時： 若標本過乾而脆（足斷、翅裂），先須鬆弛。置於鬆弛室（密封容器含濕砂或紙巾及數滴苯酚以防霉）24-48 時至肢可曲。若針位錯，趁新鮮慎重針勝於留不正之架。

步驟五：乙醇中保存（濕保存）

軟體標本乾則萎或變形者，須液中保存。

Wet Preservation Protocol:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Category           | Procedure                                |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Preservative       | 70-80% ethanol for morphological study.  |
|                    | 95-100% ethanol for DNA-grade            |
|                    | preservation (change ethanol after 24    |
|                    | hours to remove dilution from body       |
|                    | fluids).                                 |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Suitable specimens | Larvae (caterpillars, grubs, maggots),   |
|                    | soft-bodied adults (aphids, termites,    |
|                    | some small Diptera), aquatic insects,    |
|                    | immature stages (nymphs, pupae)          |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Containers         | Glass vials with screw caps or           |
|                    | polyethylene snap-cap vials. Avoid       |
|                    | rubber stoppers (ethanol dissolves       |
|                    | them). Label goes INSIDE the vial.       |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Fluid ratio        | At least 3 parts preservative to 1 part  |
|                    | specimen volume. Too little fluid        |
|                    | results in poor preservation.            |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Long-term storage  | Check fluid levels every 6-12 months.    |
|                    | Ethanol evaporates even through sealed   |
|                    | caps. Top up as needed. Store in a cool, |
|                    | dark location.                           |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

Do NOT use:
- Formaldehyde/formalin for routine insect preservation (destroys DNA,
  poses health risks, requires special disposal). Some historical
  collections used it; modern practice strongly discourages it.
- Isopropanol as a substitute — it causes excessive hardening and
  color loss compared to ethanol.

預期： 軟體標本以 70-80% 乙醇（DNA 工作 95%+）存於附標之瓶中，液量足。

失敗時： 若野外無乙醇，可暫存於高度透明烈酒（伏特加、Everclear）以應急。儘速轉實驗室級乙醇。若存弱液過久而分解，尚可鑑定但不宜分子工作。

步驟六：每標本必標

每標本必攜供科學用最低資料之標籤。無標之標本無科學價。

Labeling Standards:

LABEL 1 (Locality label — placed closest to the specimen on the pin):
  Line 1: Country, State/Province
  Line 2: Specific locality (e.g., "3 km NE of Oakville, Elm Creek trail")
  Line 3: Latitude/Longitude (decimal degrees preferred)
  Line 4: Elevation (meters above sea level)
  Line 5: Date (e.g., 15.vi.2026 or 15-Jun-2026)
  Line 6: Collector name (e.g., "leg. P. Thoss")

LABEL 2 (Habitat/method label — below the locality label):
  Line 1: Habitat (e.g., "deciduous forest, oak canopy")
  Line 2: Collection method (e.g., "sweep net" or "light trap")
  Line 3: Additional ecological data if relevant

LABEL 3 (Determination label — lowest on the pin, added when identified):
  Line 1: Order Family
  Line 2: Genus species Author, Year
  Line 3: "det. [identifier name], [year]"

Label Format Rules:
- Use archival-quality paper (acid-free, resistant to fumigant chemicals)
- Print labels using a laser printer (inkjet fades; handwriting smudges)
- Labels should be small (approximately 13mm x 8mm) — do not obscure
  the specimen
- For wet specimens, the label goes INSIDE the vial on acid-free paper
  written in pencil or printed with a laser printer (ink dissolves in
  ethanol; pencil graphite does not)
- Pin labels below the specimen using the pinning block for consistent
  heights

預期： 每標本至少攜地點標含國、地、座標、日期、採集者。濕標本瓶內以鉛筆或雷射印之內標攜同資料。

失敗時： 野外未記 GPS 座標時，據地點描述於圖估之。日期不確，記最佳估並加問號。略帶之標本遠勝全無標。勿將標籤由一標本移至另一。

步驟七：貯藏與護收藏

妥善貯藏以防物理損、蟲害、環境退化。

Dry Collection Storage:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Component          | Standard                                 |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Unit trays         | Cardboard or plastic trays with foam     |
|                    | bottoms (plastazote preferred — pinnable |
|                    | and chemically inert). Specimens pinned  |
|                    | into the foam in organized rows.         |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Drawers            | Tight-fitting drawers that exclude dust  |
|                    | and pests. Glass-topped drawers allow    |
|                    | viewing without opening.                 |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Cabinets           | Steel cabinets with tight seals.         |
|                    | Compressed-air gaskets are ideal.        |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Pest management    | Place pest strips (dichlorvos/DDVP) or   |
|                    | naphthalene/paradichlorobenzene crystals  |
|                    | in each drawer. Check and replace every  |
|                    | 6 months. Museum beetle (Anthrenus) and  |
|                    | book lice (Psocoptera) are the primary   |
|                    | pests — a single infestation can destroy |
|                    | an entire drawer.                        |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Climate control    | Target: 40-50% relative humidity,        |
|                    | 18-22C temperature. Fluctuations cause   |
|                    | expansion/contraction damage. Avoid      |
|                    | direct sunlight (fades color).           |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

Wet Collection Storage:
- Store vials upright in racks or jars
- Check fluid levels every 6-12 months; top up with fresh ethanol
- Store in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area (ethanol fumes)
- Keep away from ignition sources (ethanol is flammable)
- For long-term storage, use screw-cap glass vials; snap-cap
  plastic vials allow more evaporation

預期： 乾標本存於封閉抽屜附驅蟲劑。濕標本豎存且乙醇量足。貯藏區溫度與濕度穩定。

失敗時： 無博物館級貯藏時，將針固標本存於氣密塑膠容器（釣具箱、Tupperware）附泡沫內襯與驅蟲劑。此足於個人收藏與短期貯藏。科學有價者宜長期存於認定之博物館或大學收藏。

步驟八：理並入資料庫

以系統性整理與數據管理維收藏為活之科學資源。

Curation Tasks:
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Task               | Frequency                                |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Pest inspection    | Every 3-6 months. Look for frass (fine   |
|                    | powder under specimens), cast skins,     |
|                    | or live pests in drawers.                |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Fumigant refresh   | Every 6 months. Replace pest strips or   |
|                    | crystals. Ensure drawers seal tightly.   |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Ethanol top-up     | Every 6-12 months for wet collections.   |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Repair             | Re-pin loose specimens. Re-glue detached |
|                    | appendages (use water-soluble PVA glue). |
|                    | Replace damaged labels.                  |
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+
| Identification     | Send unidentified specimens to           |
| updates            | specialists. Update determination labels |
|                    | as IDs are returned — never remove old   |
|                    | determination labels; add new ones below.|
+--------------------+------------------------------------------+

Database Entry (minimum fields):
- Catalog number (unique identifier for each specimen)
- Taxon (order, family, genus, species)
- Locality (country, state, specific location, coordinates)
- Date of collection
- Collector
- Collection method
- Determiner and determination date
- Storage location (cabinet, drawer, row, position)
- Preservation type (pinned, ethanol, slide-mounted, point-mounted)

Database Standards:
- Use Darwin Core format for interoperability with global databases
  (GBIF, iDigBio)
- Record coordinates in decimal degrees (WGS84 datum)
- Use ISO 8601 date format (YYYY-MM-DD) in databases
- Assign a unique catalog number to every specimen, even if unidentified

預期： 所有標本於資料庫編目附獨一識別碼、分類、地、日、採集者、貯藏位置。收藏有定期檢查與維護之排程。

失敗時： 若全資料庫不可行，至少維手寫編目或試算表附標本對應之編號。編號連標本與其資料——無之，若標籤失則二者斷。即簡單編號表亦勝於全無。

驗證

• 採集前已驗法律要件並得許可
• 採集法合目標類群與棲地
• 標本處之人道且速
• 乾標本針穿其目之正確位，需展翅者已展翅
• 軟體標本存於 70-80% 乙醇
• 每標本攜地點標含日期、地、座標、採集者
• 濕標本標以鉛筆或雷射印置瓶內
• 貯藏含驅蟲劑與穩定環境
• 標本於資料庫或筆記中編目附獨一識別碼

常見陷阱

• 無許可而採：非法標本不可發表、存博、跨境。先求授權
• 過度採集：取超所需耗群無益。取最少數（每地每形態種 5-10 個）
• 多地混一器：地點資料失確。每次採集各器各暫標
• 錯針位：針甲蟲於胸中而非右鞘翅遮腹面診斷。總查目別針位
• DNA 乙醇過稀：分子分析需 95%+ 且 24 時後換以去體液稀釋。70% 保形態而時退 DNA
• 忘濕標本內標：外貼可脫。瓶內標乃永久之記
• 忽蟲害：皮蠹可數週毀一整抽屜。定期監測與驅蟲劑非選項

相關技能

• identify-insect

  — 採得標本之形態鑑定，用二叉檢索、翅脈、口器、觸角

• document-insect-sighting

  — 目擊之攝影與脈絡記錄，可補或代實體採集

• observe-insect-behavior

  — 活蟲之行為觀察規約，採集之前或代之

• survey-insect-population

  — 系統性族群調查，通常需採集以鑑定與憑證