diatom and bug sources?

[bklein]

Any recommendations for sources for butterfly wings, nasty bugs, or diatoms? I understand that many of the diatom photos utilize fairly old diatom slides that were painstakenly assembled many years ago. Threads or resource articles with diatom subjects? Sources for insects?
I know there is a cool insect show coming to Cal State Pomona I think around October timeframe....

Barry

[Eric F]

Get an insect net Barry <http://www.bioquip.com/> ! You live in 'Bug Paradise' -- the Santa Ana Mtns. I know, as I grew up nearby (the Santa Monica Mtns.); that environment started me on my career as an entomologist.

Cheers,

Eric

[bklein]

Yes they are actually walking distance from me - we walk our dog on some of the trails. Unfortunately all I see are mosquitos... and the snakes are coming out now. Lots of cool wildflowers for macro though.

[Bob^3]

Get an insect net Barry <http://www.bioquip.com/> ! You live in 'Bug Paradise' -- the Santa Ana Mtns. I know, as I grew up nearby (the Santa Monica Mtns.)

Just be sure you're not in a park or reserve. Not sure, but I think even California and national forests have fines against collecting....if you're unlucky enough to run into one of the last remaining park rangers or staff naturalists. Most private land and fields near homes are legal, as far as I know.

[bklein]

Hey that link told me about a bug fair at the Natural History Museum next month... http://www.nhm.org/site/activities-programs/bug-fair
Also they seem to have monthly meetings at the company that might be interesting.

[Bob^3]

If you ask nicely, they might even give you any dead specimens!

You can also get live and dead insects from Carolina Biological Supply:

http://www.carolina.com/

I bought a praying mantis egg sac years ago and photographed the young when they hatched.