METAMORPHOSIS 



243 



other caterpillars. Caterpi liars should be taken with 

 their food plant, the stein of plant placed in a bottle 

 filled with moist sand, and this surrounded with soil 

 in a flower-pot. In order to keep the larvae from roving, 

 a number of devices can be used. 



Breeding-Cage. A larnp-chimney or lantern-globe 

 with Swiss muslin tied over the top (Fig. 188) can be 

 placed over the food plant, or where many larvae are 



being studied, a box can be well 

 used. The soil must contain about 

 the same degree of moisture that 

 shaded earth will contain ; it must 

 not, be soaked, but can be kept moist, 

 in the case of the flower-pot, by keep- 

 ing water iu the saucer beneath the 

 flower-pot. The earth in the screened 

 box can be sprinkled lightly, but fre- 

 quently enough to retain the right de- 

 gree of moisture. Many larva." 1 enter 

 the ground to pupate. Should the soil 

 be too moist the pupa will mold and 

 die. Should it be too dry the insect will not develop 

 properly. 



A fresh supply of food should be furnished daily, 

 and all litter removed from the breeding-cage. It will 

 very often be found impracticable to remove a part of 

 the old food when new food is introduced; since it is 

 not best to disturb the caterpillar, but to wait until it 

 has moved from the old food material to the new. 



Records. Always keep beside the breeding-cage pen- 

 cil and note-paper, to make notes of every change just 



FIG. 188. A conven- 

 ient breeding-cage. 



