Insect Wish List
December 17th, 2006 by Kelley
So, the more I get used to the ins-and-outs of this website, the more I poke around other websites to see what others do, and the more I notice different trends.
One of the things I find quite peculiar is that several sites have a side bar called an “Amazon Wish List” or something to that extend. From what I can ascertain, people make up a list of things they’d like and generous folks can purchase it for them, donate money to their paypal account, or what have you.
Now, I can’t say that I am presumptuous/bold enough to do something like that (yet), but it did give me an idea.
When I was first starting out my insect collection I used to have my family and friends send me dead specimens from their respective parts of the world. Odd as I am, I really enjoyed getting random bugs in the mail from all over. And it was always really fun to hear the collecting stories my friends and family had.
Hence, I got the idea to start an insect wish list. At this point I don’t think I need to be so specific as to narrow it down to certain species, but if you would like to nab me a bug and mail it to me for my personal collection, I would be much obliged. I could even start featuring photos of the specimens y’all send in and you could see what kinds of things people are finding around their homes, gardens, and sides of the world.
So, here are some collecting guidelines:
1. My friends and family have put the insect specimens in all sorts of containers ranging from envelopes, ziplock baggies, tupperware containers, and film canisters. I have found that envelopes and ziplocks put inside tupperware actually work the best for keeping the body parts safe from crushing. Or, just putting the envelopes/ziplocks in the cd/small box-shaped cardboard from the post office works well. If you are well-equipped and so inclined, you can also pin the specimen(s) before you mail it.
2. Once you have collected your insect (dead or alive), put it in the freezer for at least a day or two to make sure it stays dead and you kill any thing that may be trying to hitch a ride. I know it sounds a bit strange putting insects in your freezer, but if it makes you feel any better, lots of entomologists do it 
One of the perks of putting the insect in the freezer, aside from killing it, ensures that when you thaw the body out and go to pin the insect, the internal organs/hemolymph help stick the insect to the pin by acting like a glue.
3. Be sure to include a note that details who it was collected by and the location (i.e., city, state). Also include what it is (if you know) and if there are any local common names for it.
4. When you are ready to mail it to me, click on the ‘ask an entomologist’ tab and send me a little message saying that you would like to mail me an insect specimen and I will respond with a mailing address.
5. Only accept this invitation if you don’t mind paying for postage, unless you have a lot of really cool stuff, than we could arrange something.
Hello:
Today, and also a few years ago. I found some insects like I’ve never seen before. They are about one eighth inches in length. The color is black and they have two wings. They look just like a turkey or a goose when they walk. They hold their skinny head really high and kinda wabble as they walk. They can also leap. I have looked and researched and cannot find a photo that resembles the insect. It looks so much like a micro turkey or goose. Its amazing. Can you tell me what this is?
Thanks,
Lee McAlpin
Where is your geographic location?
Anything specific from NJ that you’re looking for?
Kelley, are there any particular insects (primarily aquatic) from Alabama you are interested in having?
Hello Patrick,
I’m not a picky entomologist.
What kind of aquatic insects can you get your hands on? I’d say I am interested in just about anything
Thanks for a wonderful site.
For decades I have been searching to find information on an insect that seems to be unique to my house. No one else I know has ever seen these things. I’ve looked in bug encyclopedias and searched the net. A few years ago I pointed one out to a young woman who dubbed it on the spot a “spidy-peed.” Have you ever encountered an 8-legged, 2-inch long, light brown, “walking stick” that looks like it wants to be a centipede? In other words, it’s long, much thinner than a centipede, and has 8 long legs like a daddy longlegs spider. They seem to live in the bricks in my fireplace and come out after dark. They crawl in only one direction back and forth across the floor, from east to west. They are incredibly fast, so I haven’t caught a live one, and they are so ugly I don’t want to. However, last night I finally stepped on one (gently). Would a semi-squashed specimen be recognizable by an entomologist? Can I freeze it and send it to you?
Hi Catherine,
You can send me a picture of it to my email address: kezylstra at gmail.com.
Ahoy! I think I just read every single post in your blog - blame Jay’s mom for getting me hooked! I’ve got some frozen central TX critters that may interest you (I feel like the sleazy guy with a trench coat), a giant water beetle, 2 water scorpions and one other critter from the same pool, closer in relation to the toe-biter than the water scorpions… They’ve been frozen since last July and I recall the big fellow smelling pretty bad, so maybe it’s not ideal… but it’s worth a try, eh? Anyway, now I feel like digging up my piles of bug pics for ID help. Wonderful, wonderful site!
Hi Heidi,
I’d love to add those aquatics to my collection. Send me an email at the above address or click on the ‘ask an entomologist’ tab and I will give you my address.
Thanks for your kind words about the site…actually most thanks should go to Jay because I wouldn’t get very far with the actual ‘website’ part. Computers aren’t my thing
Always,
Kelley