Feb., '06] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 49 



Professor Berlese's Apparatus For Collecting Small 

 Arthropods Rapidly and in Great Quantities. 



BY L. O. HOWARD. 



While visiting the laboratory of Professor Antonio Berlese 

 in Florence in June last, I was greatly interested in an appar- 

 atus which he has prepared for collecting small insects and 

 other arthropods very rapidly and in very great numbers, and 

 which it seemed to me obviated in large measure the la- 

 borious process known to entomologists as "sifting." He 

 showed me the apparatus practically in operation, and showed 

 me further large numbers of vials filled with Thysanura, My- 

 riapoda, Acarina and the like, which in number and variety 

 afforded a perfect revelation to me. Since returning to this 

 country I have had one of the smaller styles of the apparatus 

 made, and have tested it during the month of December with 

 leaves and rubbish collected on the grounds of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and with very considerable success ; so 

 much so, in fact, that I wish to bring the apparatus to the at- 

 tention of English-speaking entomologists. No doubt had I 

 used leaves or top soil of old and long undisturbed wooded 

 regions the results achieved would have been vastly greater 

 than they have with the material tested ; but even this, as 

 just stated, has been very satisfactory. Professor Berlese's 

 description and statement concerning results was published in 

 Redia, vol. II, No. i, shortly after my visit, and his article, 

 very freely translated, is as follows : 



Within this last year I have devised an apparatus which is 

 very simple and very effective, with which I collect in great 

 numbers and without fatigue, the small Arthropods as well as 

 insects of all the following orders : Myriapoda, Symphyla, 

 Pauropoda, Chelifera and Arachnida, and especially Acarida 

 however small, without any danger of being able to escape. 

 Of the Collembola, which are so difficult to collect because 

 they spring, I have taken a very great number. 



All those living creatures which are found to be present in 

 the mosses, among the dead leaves under the trees, in decay- 

 ing wood, in humus, in decomposing substances, etc., are col- 



