230 ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



at the time of note-taking. These notes should be 

 written in the field while the collecting is going on. 

 Observations should always be written at the time they 

 are made. 



Collecting at Lights. Insects can be collected at elec- 

 tric lights ; but in the collecting nothing more is ac- 

 complished than the acquisition, of the things, and the 

 knowledge that such insects are attracted to lights. 



" Sugaring."- - Many moths and some other insects 

 are to be brought to notice by a process termed ''sugar- 

 ing." This consists of placing, before dark, on trunks 

 of trees, fences and similar objects, a paste of sugar 

 and water. Dark-brown sugar is preferable. The 

 paste should be of proper consistency to apply with a 

 brush, but not so thin that it will flow from the object 

 to which it is applied. Cover a space about three 

 inches wide and several inches long on the trees and 

 fence-posts. Do this about sunset. Return after dark 

 with a common lantern in hand, and take such insects 

 as are found feeding upon this sugar paste, 'by placing 

 the cyanide bottle over each one. Since there may be 

 many insects at the sugar, it is well to lie provided with 

 a. number of wide-mouthed cyanide bottles. By this 

 method of sugaring some species of moths can be taken, 

 species which are rarely seen under any other condition. 



Preservation of Insects. For reasons already given, 

 those insects which are to lie placed in preserving-fluids 

 will need no other attention, unless the fluids become 

 discolored, then a change of fluid is necessary. A 

 small card bearing the lot number, the writing being 

 made with carbon pencil, should be placed in the bottle 

 with the specimen. Labels pasted on the outside fre- 



