Collecting and preserving insects properly is something every entomology student needs to learn early on. Without correct methods, specimens lose their scientific value before they even reach the lab. This paper covers the standard equipment and techniques used to collect insects in the field and preserve them for study, including immature stages such as eggs, larvae, pupae, and nymphs. Collection methods discussed include sweep nets, aspirators, Berlese funnels, traps, and aquatic nets. Preservation covers three approaches — dry pinning and spreading for hard-bodied adults, fluid preservation in ethyl alcohol or formalin for soft-bodied specimens, and microscopic slide mounting for very small insects. Proper labelling and storage practices are also explained, since a well-labelled collection is far more useful than one that is not.
Rohit Sethi (Fri,) studied this question.