Judging 4H Entomology Projects

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Judging 4-H Entomology Projects

• Ronald C. Seymour
• UNL Extension in Adams County

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4-H Entomology Manual
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4-H Entomology manual

• Outstanding reference for judging
• Read about 4-H entomology projects pages 55 56
• Judge should be able to identify insect orders
  see pages 30-48
• Score sheet on page 50

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Score sheet for displays
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Assess the numbers

• Count number of specimens after July 1 of
  previous year
• 1st year 25
• 2nd year 50
• 3rd year 75
• Count number of orders
• 1st year 6
• 2nd year 8
• 3rd year 10

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Specimen mounting

• Must use insect pins
• Through the upper right side of thorax or wing

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Specimen mounting

• Back of specimen ¼ inch from top of pin
• Must be straight and level

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Butterfly and moth wings

• Lower edge of front wing makes a cross with the
  body
• Hind wings - slight overlap with front wing
• Wings should be flat

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Butterflies and moths
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Point mounting insects

• For small insects
• Stiff paper point triangle about 1/8 at base
  and ¼ long
• Pin to the right of point tip
• Glue to right side of insect

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Vials

• Soft bodied specimens
• Glass vials
• Ethyl alcohol
• Securely pinned into display box

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Labeling

• Stiff paper (card stock)
• Computer generated 6 pt
• Top of label to the right side of insect
• Top of label to the right side of point
• Inside vials computer or pencil

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Labels
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Labeling

• Collection information county state, date,
  collector just under insect
• Order name under collection label
• Labels ¼ inch below insect or point
• Order label ¼ inch below collector label
• Order labels in display box stiff paper

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Specimen identification

• Make sure specimens are correctly identified to
  order
• Beetles, butterflies, bees/wasps,
  grasshoppers/crickets, true bugs, and flies are
  most common
• Use key on page 41 to check identification

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Insect key
Wings present may be short, long, delicate or
shell like
Four wings two wings may form hard shell or
cover over body
Wings not overlapping at tip
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Insect key
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Organizing the collection

• Group by order
• Create consistent rows and columns within each
  group
• Label each order

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Organized box
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Condition of specimens

• Deduct for poor condition specimens
• Major body parts missing or broken
• Torn wings
• Fumigant to keep out insects
• Moth balls on pin
• Moth crystals in fumigant box

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Display box

• About 12 x 18 x 3 ½ (figure 18)
• Glass top that stays closed
• Sheet Styrofoam in bottom
• Home constructed or supplier purchased

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Display box
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Scoring

• Basic requirements 20
• Number of specimens
• Number of orders
• Correct Identification 30
• Deduct 5 points for each missed
• Labeling 15
• Pinning 15
• Overall neatness 20
• Condition of specimens
• Arrangement in box

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Scoring

• Purple 94 - 100
• Blue 85 - 93
• Red 75 - 84
• White lt 75
• Consider curving results

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Insect posters

• Must be informative
• Examples
• Life cycles of insects
• Insect products
• Value of insects
• Evaluation based on
• Educational value
• Accuracy
• Visual appearance

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Summary

• Follow score sheet
• Use 4-H manual for identification and directions
• Score based on accuracy and visual appeal

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