The best way to capture insect specimens is use insect nets of various sizes. While heading out for insect collection, ensure that you carry some killing jars, spare containers and forceps. As the term goes, killing jars (having cotton balls soaked in ethyl acetate, and a piece of tissue paper) are used for killing the collected insects, which are then kept in the spare containers. In case, you are interested in studying flying insects, swing the aerial net in a convenient direction, seal the tip and then, gently transfer similar insects into a killing jar. You may be interested in learning insect identification.
Inside the killing jar, the ethyl acetate fumes will kill the insect, and the tissue paper is useful to collect excess moisture. Another way of killing collected insects is keeping in the freezer for one day. For soft-bodied insects, cold treatment for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator is sufficient to kill them. If required, thaw insects properly prior to preserving them for display. As for the labeling data, include location, date, environment and name of the collector. Regarding further steps of insect preservation for display, there are various techniques, of which some are explained below.