Making envelopes for papering gnats and craneflies

If you are minded to collect either (or both) craneflies or fungus gnats for Alan Stubbs and Peter Chandler, it is simple enough to store them in advance of sending them off. Making the storage system is described in six simple steps.

1. Cut a square of paper about 7cm square (or thereabouts). I usually fold over an a4 sheet into two and then two again - this gives me potential for 12 squares. Alternatively, you could use old postage envelopes and simply cut off the corners to appropriate sizes.

Figure 1. Basic square of paper

  2. Fold the square into two to make a triangle

Figure 2. Folded into two to make a triangle - in this case the square was slightly rectangular but that does not matter.

3. Turn over one open side of the triangle to seal it. I usually don't worry about using tape to make sure it stays closed but you can if you feel so inclined.

Figure 3. One side of the triangle sealed by folding over.

4. Write relevant data on the triangle BEFORE filling it with specimens otherwise you will crush them.

Figure 4. Triangle with data - I usually smaple both gnats and craneflies so I need to put a note as to what the envelope contains.

5. Fill the envelope with sorted specimens - you should be able to open the envelope by putting pressure on two sides to cause the remaining open side to part open. However, to show what the envelope contains I have opened one to show how the flies are arranged.

Figure 5. Triangular envelope containing fungus gnats.

6. Seal the open side by turning over and making sure there is a good fold.

Figure 6. Sealed envelop ready for storage.

It is probably best to liaise with Peter and/or Alan before sending large volumes of specimens, but both of them are usually pleased to get specimens that will improve coverage by their schemes.