17. PL ANT BO ARO May 19U5 M-221 Waited States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Administration Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine A SHIPPING GiNTAINER MR ADULT INSETS By Charles A. Clark, Division of Cereal and Porage Insect Investigations A shipping container for insects was devised and tested in I9UU in large-scale shipments of parasites of the European corn "borer ( Pyrauata nuoilalis (Hbn*)). This container is similar to those previously used on this and other projects^!/ hut includes several modifications which seem worth reporting* This improved shipping container is designed to he used in con- Junction with a vacuum type of insect collector, such as a modified hair drier, similar to those now commonly in use in various entomologi- cal laboratories. The Insects are drawn into the container when the air stream passes through a glass tube which is held in a No, 9 ruhher stopper placed in the cover opening. The container is a standard, pint-sise ice-cream carton, 3 3/8 inches in diameter and 3 1/^ inches deep (inside dimensions) « Cartons with this diameter and a selection of different depths are available commercially, A hole 1 5/8 inches in diameter is punched in the center of the top and hot torn of the carton. If many containers are to he made, a simple machine punch similar to that shown in figure 1 can he con- structed, hut a hand punch is entirely satisfactory when only a few are to he made* However, it is essential that the opening in the cover he of the exact size specified* The containers used have a double "bottom. After the hole has been punched in the hottom of the carton, the inner hottom liner, now in the form of a ring 7/8 inches wide, can easily he removed. A piece of cheesecloth is attached to this ring hy means of hot wax or shellac and allowed to dry* The carton is then dipped in very hot wax and the cloth-covered hottom insert fuickly replaced with the cloth side down. The hot wax will hold the inner liner firmly to the hottom and seal the crack around the edge* — ' Oarman, p., and Brigham, W. T. Studies on parasites of the oriental fruit moth, II. Macrocentrus ancylivorus * Conn* (State) Agr, Ixpt. Sta. Bui. 356, 116 pp. 1933. - 2 - The closure used In the cover is a milk-bottle cap with a flanged edge approximately 1/2 Inch wide. The cap fits in the opening very snugly, and no seal is needed to hold it in place. It does not use up any extra space when the containers are packed for shipment. Caps can he purchased in various colors* In parasite work with the corn "borer different-colored caps are used on containers for different species of parasites, for convenience when more than one species ie shipped in the same consignment. The date, species, number of speci- mens, or other information can he written on the flat center portion of the cap, or the caps can he purchased with suitable information printed on theau When in use. a small amount of excelsior is placed in the con- tainer to provide a footing for the adult insects* Consignments are dispatched in iced shipping boxes, which keep the adults inactive so that no provision for food en route is necessary* The fact that these containers are very light is an advantage* especially when shipments are made by air express* Completed containers are shown in figure 2* The total finished cost of these containers, with caps, at present U9U5) prices is less than 5 cents eaoh« * Tigure 1.— Machine punch used in preparation of shipping containers for insects* < Figure 2»— Completed containers for shipping insects, IVERSITY OF FLORIDA .iiiumi 3 1262 09240 8680