BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [54] 



beating foliage over an umbrella. A very satisfactory method consists 

 in collecting pupae, which may frequently be found in numbers about 

 the bases of the trees on which the larvae feed. Many larvae of the 

 large family of Owlet Moths (Xocfni<hr) are found either on the surface 

 of the ground or under various substances, while others burrow into 

 the stems of the different herbaceous plants, some being subaquatic and 

 feeding on the underside of leaves or in the stems of aquatic plants. 

 In the case of Microlepidoptera, their habit as larvae, of mining leaves 

 or tying or webbing them together, affords an easy means of detecting 

 their presence in most cases. The miners are easily noticed by the dis- 

 colored spots on the leaves or the wavy, pale, or brown lines marking 

 their burrows. The presence of others is indicated by the leaves being- 

 drawn together and united with webs, or withered and brown from being- 

 skeletonized by the larvae. Many species are case-bearers, and live 

 upon the leaves and branches of trees and plants, dragging their cases 

 along with them. Others burrow in grasses or in the stems of plants 

 or the trunks of trees, or in fungi. In the case of the leaf-miners and leaf- 

 tiers, little difficulty is experienced in rearing the imagoes. 



The care of the larvae, the outfit required, and the methods of breed- 

 ing will be described in later sections. 



COLLECTING HEMIPTERA. 



For the most part the directions for collecting Coleoptera will apply 

 to this order of insects equally well, especially so far as concerns the 

 first section of the order (Heteroptera), and the higher 

 families of the second section (Homoptera). A few 

 directions may be given for the lower forms, including 

 the Aphididae, Coccidae, Aleurodidae, and Psyllidae, and 

 the suborder Parasita, including the degraded forms 

 which infest man and the lower animals. The Plant- 

 lice or Aphides should always be collected in connec- 

 tion with their 

 food-plants, and 

 it is very essen- 

 tial also to collect the same spe- 

 cies at different seasons of the 

 year to obtain the different forms 

 or generations, which frequently 

 present very marked differences. 

 It is also very necessary to se- 

 cure the winged forms, which are 

 usually produced toward autumn, and without which the species are 

 not easily identified. The Bark lice or Scale-insects should also be col- 

 lected in connection witli the leaves or twigs which they infest. The 

 males of these insects are minute and, as a rule, two- winged, resembling 

 small gnats, and may be bred from the male scales. The females are for 



FIG. 74. A Penta- 

 toniid (Stiretrus 

 anchoraga). 



FIG. 75. The Hlood-suckiug Cone-nose 



sanguisuga). a, mature bug; b, pupa. 



