Cjje Canadian Entomologist. 



VOL. VII. LONDON, ONT., APRIL, 1875. No. 4 



SUGARING FOR NOCTURE. 



BY GEO. NORMAN, ST. CATHARINES, ONT. 



Having been requested by the worthy Editor of this journal to 

 contribute a few hints on sugaring for Nocture, I have endeavored to put 

 together a few notes that may prove serviceable to those who may not 

 have been successful in this method of capture. To begin with, it ought 

 to be a golden rule never to abandon a locality, even should it yield 

 nothing for a few nights. Often have I sugared a new locality night after 

 night, with absolutely no results, but by persevering the moths have 

 become attracted to the place, and, in course of time, were swarming on 

 every tree. 



The mixture I have found to answer best is either the common black 

 treacle (not refined syrup), or the very coarsest brown sugar, called, I 

 believe, by the trade, " Jamaica foots.'' In either case, the sugar or 

 treacle must be thinned down to a proper consistency by means of stale 

 ale, or, what is still better, the thick yeasty residuum from an ale or stout 

 cask. Some collectors add a drop or two of oil of aniseed, and just 

 before brushing on to the trees, a small quantity of rum, but I have really 

 found no benefit from either addition. My receptacle for the mixture is 

 made of zinc, flattened at the sides and rounded at the corners, so as 

 -easily to slip into my shooting-coat pocket. It has a brass screw at the 

 neck, with a leather washer, the handle being attached to the brush — 

 .an ordinary painter's " sash tool," — and goes inside the neck and is 

 screwed tight when in the pocket. By this means all soiling the fingers 

 is avoided. 



On arriving at my ground, I look for a round with plenty of young trees 

 with stems under twelve inches in diameter, selecting a place interspersed, 

 if possible, by walks and footpaths. The thick, dense portions of woods 

 .are of no use, but the outside trees will do very well, provided the trees 

 are not too large and the trunks too rough and corky ; choose the trees 



