The favorite method of collecting insects is by sweeping, with the contents of the net either dumped en masse into a killing jar or individual specimens removed with an aspirator. In our collecting of Hymenoptera, however, both methods proved inefficient. When using an aspirator to remove specimens directly from an open sweep net many of the larger and swift flying insects escape almost immediately after the net has been opened and before the collector has managed to capture more than just a few. Furthermore, non-target organisms often are inadvertently collected in the rush, including undesirable groups such as spiders which invariably spin webs inside the aspirator and damage the specimens. These problems are overcome if the entire contents of the sweep net are dumped into a killing jar, but this method requires much additional work after the collecting day is over. The days entire collection must be taken back to the laboratory and sifted through to separate the insects from the debris. Without the aid of a microscope many of the microhymenoptera are easily overlooked, often almost indistinguishable from the debris when not moving. If an entire days sweepings has to be processed under a microscope this becomes tedious.