You should concentrate on finding larvae and pupae. Larvae are usually white and look more like worms than insects. Larvae never have wings. Pupae look like seeds or tiny mummies, perhaps even pills. They do not feed or move. For the larvae, try to get a cross-section of sizes. But be sure to always include the largest individuals. Try also to get a few representative adults from the corpse.

Larvae, pupae, and adults are easily killed and preserved with 70-80% isopropyl alcohol. This is the "rubbing alcohol" that is available at many grocery stores. Do not use the higher concentrations that are sometimes available, such as 90%. Such a high concentration of alcohol will make the insects brittle.

The insects may be placed directly into the alcohol. The alcohol can be placed in almost any type of container, as long as it has a tight-fitting lid that won't leak. If a large number of insects are placed in one container, the alcohol should be changed a few hours later. This is because the bodies of the insects contain water, and this water will dilute the alcohol to a point where decay can take place.

Each container should hold only the insects collected on a particular part of the body, and should be labeled accordingly, for example "shoulder area." The label should also have the date and time the insects were collected, for example "10 Oct. 93, 1400 hrs." Containers can be labeled on the outside with waterproof ink, although sometimes this ink will run when wetted with alcohol. A better method is to write the labels with dark pencil lead on bond paper with at least a 50% rag content. (With time, lighter leads will fade, and non-rag papers will disintegrate.) These labels can then be placed in the container with the insects.

It is also a good idea to keep some larvae and pupae alive to be reared through to adults. It is easier to identify species using the adults.

Living larvae and pupae can be kept in pint canning cars in which the lid has been replaced with a large coffee filter. The purpose of the coffee filter is to allow the insects to breathe. Without it, they will die from lack of oxygen in a very short time. They will also die if they are allowed to dry out. You can avoid having the larvae dry out, without drowning them at the same time, by placing some wet cotton balls or similar material in with them. Once again, each jar should only contain insects from a particular part of the body. The same information should be taken as for preserved insects. But the jars should be labeled on the outside. The live insects should be delivered immediately to a specialist. It is best if the delivery is done in person or using an express delivery service.