166 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Art. XVI. — On " Sugaring " for Lepidoptera in Southland. 



By Alfred Philpott. 



Communicated by G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 15th January, 1901.} 



During the spring and summer months moths are always 

 more or less plentiful, and can generally be taken at various 

 blossoms or netted in the evening, so that "sugaring" at 

 this period is not an important means of obtaining specimens. 

 But when the days grow shorter, and there are no attractive 

 flowers in bloom, then " sugar " may be used with advantage. 

 Even in midwinter many fine species may be secured, especi- 

 ally if the rigours of the season be broken by a few mild days. 

 During June and July I have taken Melanchra mutans, pUna y 

 and slipata, Bityla defigurata, Declaim floccosa, Hydriomena- 

 gobiata, Xanthorhoe rosearia, Elvia glaucata, Selidosema de- 

 jectaria and panagrata, and Ctenopseustis obliquana. In 

 August several of the early spring moths are out, such as 

 uiistriga and vitiosa, beata, semifissata, and suavis, and these 

 come eagerly to the alluring sweets. I think that midsummer 

 is the poorest season to use " sugar " ; there are then so many- 

 attractive flowers in bloom that artificial sweets seem to be 

 despised. 



It is of little use laying " sugar " in native bush, even 

 if good tracks can be followed. The best situation is a 

 few good trees surrounded by cultivation. I remember once 

 travelling some distance to what I thought would be a 

 splendid place for "sugaring." It was a little open space, 

 almost surrounded by native bush, and with native herbage 

 growing luxuriantly amongst the scattered tree-trunks. The 

 night was warm and dark, an ideal night for moths ; but after 

 two hours' work I had taken but a dozen specimens. Before 

 setting out, however, I had laid some "sugar" on a few 

 Pinus insignis which shelter my orchard and garden, and on 

 my return I found these trees absolutely swarming with 

 moths. 



The " sugaring " mixture should be placed on the sheltered 

 side of the trees, and should be well rubbed in with the brush ; 

 if only laid on lightly much of it will trickle down on to the 

 ground, where it is inconvenient to bottle the moths. 



I prepare my " sugaring " mixture by adding a wine-glass 

 each of beer and rum to a pound of black treacle and stirring 

 thoroughly. I have tried port wine instead of beer and rum, 

 and found it answer very well ; but I do not think its effects 



