Photographing Eggs of Insects

COLLECTING EGGs.-If one goes to the field to look for eggs much diligent searching is required. When eggs are found, that portion of the plant or object bearing eggs should be cut off and placed in a tin salve box or a similar container where they will not be crushed or dry out before they are photographed, reared or preserved. In case one does not know the species of the insect that produced the eggs, it is well to take careful notes on their location. Also, one should look for similar eggs that may have hatched. Young larvae or nymphs may be present on or near the hatched eggs. If these are found they should be collected and saved for identification. One should also collect any female insects that may be in the vicinity of the unknown eggs. Under field conditions, one may see female insects, especially butterflies, depositing eggs on foliage and flowers. If one will collect these eggs and the female that deposited them, then one will possess the female for identification. The author has determined eggs of Pieridae and other Lepidoptera in this manner.