[53] 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS RILEY. 



FIG. 73. Same, showing method of closing pill-box after 

 the specimen is secured (original). 



72, 73.) A drop of chloroform on the bottom of the box at once stupe- 

 fies the capture so that it can be taken out and otherwiise dsposed of. 



The necessity of rearing to obtain perfect specimens is even more 

 important in the case of the Microlepidoptera than with the larger forms, 

 and many species are very 

 easily reared and can thus 

 be obtained in quantity. 

 The Micros are abundant 

 from early spring to late fall 

 about shrubbery, in open 

 fields, and along the edges 

 of woods. They are, for the 

 most part, day fliers, being 

 on the wing chiefly in the 

 latter part of the day and 

 early evening. As soon as 

 collected they should be 

 transferred to pill-boxes and the greatest care should be exercised to 

 avoid mutilating them, as the slightest touch will denude them of a 

 portion of their scales or break their limbs or antennae Lord Walsiug- 

 ham thus gives his experience in collecting Micros: 



I go out with a coat provided with large pockets inside and out, containing an 

 assortment of pill-boxes, generally of three sizes, glass-bottomed pill-boxes preferred, 

 a bag slung over my shoulder, and a net. Unless searching for particular day-flying 

 species, I prefer the last three hours before dark. As the sun goes down many species 

 move which do not stir at other times. I watch the tops of the grass, the stems of 

 the flowers, the twigs of the trees ; I disturb leaves and low-growing plants with 

 a short switch and secure each little moth that moves., taking each out of the net in 

 a separate pill-box, selected according to the size of the insect, as he runs up the net 

 to escape. Transferring the full boxes to the bag I continue the process until moths 

 cease flying or night sets in. Many species can be taken with a lamp after dark. 



Collecting the early States. The careful entomologist who prides him- 

 self on the appearance of his specimens, will, as stated above, rely 

 largely on collecting the earl/ states and on rearing the insects, for his 

 material. The Macrolepidoptera have either a single or two broods, or 

 more, in a season, and the collection of the early states will be greatly 

 facilitated if a knowledge of the insect's life-habits is first obtained. 

 The eggs are often found on the food plants of the species, and where 

 they are deposited in masses they afford a very easy method of getting 

 the larva? in numbers. In many cases, however, the eggs are deposited 

 singly and their discovery then becomes a difficult matter. 



More satisfactory in some respects is the method of obtaining the eggs 

 from captured gravid females, and the general collector should always 

 be on the lookout for females of rare species from which he may be 

 able to obtain eggs. A single battered female may, in this way, be the 

 source of large numbers of excellent reared specimens. Many rare Lepi- 

 dopterous larva? may be obtained by the use of the beating net and by 



