186 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



PRACllCAL AND POPULAR KNTOxVlOLOGY.— No. 14. 



Work for June. — Caterpillar Hunting. 



by arthur gibson, division of entomology, central experimental 



farm, ottawa. 



Everyone interested in the study of insect life eagerly awaits the 



approach of spring. It is at that time, probably more than at any other, 



that the keenest interest is shown in the subject by the majority of our 



collectors. How often, however, one begins enthusiastically in spring to 



collect insects of rt// kinds, becomes fascinated with the work and within a 



very short time gathers together a collection worthy of some notice ; but, 



frequently, as the season advances, the interest begins to lag and soon 



something else takes the attention and the subject is dropped. Many a 



good beginning is thus ended. The month of June is distinctly the time 



of greatest interest to study the life-histories of insects. Many collectors, 



while continually adding specimens to their collections throughout the 



season, pay little attention to their habits or try to discover any new facts 

 concerning their life-histories. The work of many of our collectors would 

 be rendered more attractive and much more valuable if they would only 

 take time to give a little attention to the early stages of the insects which 

 they collect or study in the perfect state. This short article is merely a 

 plea to beginners or collectors of a few years, to take up some special 

 branch of the work in the hope of finding out new facts which, while 

 adding much to their own pleasure, will also be of use to others who may 

 be making a more critical or extended study in the same order of insects. 

 Taking it for granted, then, that the beginner, or even the collector of 

 some years, wishes to pay special attention to butterflies and moths, late 

 spring is a splendid time to hunt for their caterpillars. There is a fascina- 

 tion about rearing insects to the perfect state which is never experienced 

 in the ordinary collecting of the imagoes. Then, besides, there is the charm 

 of discovering some new fact which was hitherto unrecorded. Many of 

 our caterpillars pass the winter in a half or full grown condition, and if 

 collected in May and June soon become mature and change to the pupal 

 state. Thus in a very short period the beginner will gain much experience 

 which will be of service to him when endeavoring to trace out the complete 

 life-history of a species. Even if his chief desire is to obtain perfect speci- 

 mens, he will be well repaid with the result of his labours. 



June, 1906 



