Insect Collecting

Insect Collecting

Because most insects are small and the majority cannot be identified without the examination of minute morphological characters, entomologists often make and maintain insect collections. Very large collections are conserved in museums or colleges and universities where they are maintained and studied by specialists. Many college course require students to form small collections. There are also amateurs entomologists and collectors who keep collections.

Historically insect collecting has been widespread and was in the Victorian age a very popular educational hobby. Insect collecting has left traces in European cultural history, literature and songs (e.g., Georges Brassens's La chasse aux papillons (The Hunt for Butterflies)). The practice is still widespread in many countries, and is particularly common among Japanese youths.

Since most types of insects have hard exoskeletons that retain their form after the insects dies, it is easy and practical to form a collection.