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Insects migrate from one place to another in today's global economy.Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Getty Images
Capture a specimen of the insect in question. Use a suitable container that will keep the insect alive for a while. Good containers are big enough to keep the insect in it comfortably and allow fresh air in for the insect to breathe, but not so big that the insect can escape. Small plastic jars or bottles with some air holes in the lid will work fine. If you're squeamish about touching the insects try taking photos. - 2
A captured beetle in a jar.Jeffrey Hamilton/Digital Vision/Getty Images
Write down every detail about the insect as soon as possible. It's important to do this right away because the insect might change quite a bit if it becomes stressed out. Note its size, shape, color and general appearance. Describe any interesting parts, like the antennae. Use your magnifying glass to get a good view of the legs and body parts. Write down where you found the insect, what the climate is like and the time of day. A good report might read like "Brown insect, shiny, beetle-like with a shell, about 1 inch long with long antennae. Found under the front door floor mat during a nice summer evening." Jot down any important behaviors the bug displays, like "rearing" at you threateningly, clicking or emitting bad odors. - 3). Start with the scientific route to correctly identify your specimen. All insects are in the class Hexapoda. The Hexapoda class is divided again into orders, such as the order of beetles, Coleoptera. Orders are then divided into families, families into genera (genus) and genus into species. According to entomologist Hein Biljmaker, there are more than 750,000 species of insects.
- 4). Identify the species of your insect specimen by using a reference key or taxonomic book on insects. This is where your detailed notes will be the most helpful. Insects are divided by their body types and distinct qualities, such as insects with and without wings or with or without pincers and by a long list of other characteristics.
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