288 Phylum Ar thro p oda 



I. Equipment. One of the chief essentials is a sunny, warm room 

 with good ventilation. Exposure to direct sunlight without the inter- 

 vention of glass is desirable and may be achieved usually during the 

 spring and summer. Constant temperature rooms or an incubator where 

 one can obtain temperatures of from 25 to 30 C. at will and an electric 

 refrigerator for the storage of hibernating eggs are necessary for a con- 

 tinuous supply of the various stages. 



Two types of cage are desirable. A large size for stock or mass- 

 cultures and a smaller size for special experiments. The following descrip- 

 tion applies to cages which have proven satisfactory. They may be 

 made in any ordinary workshop. The frame and bottom of each are 

 made of %-inch cypress, since this wood does not warp, split, or rot 

 easily. The ends, top, and back of each type are of copper gauze with 

 18 meshes per inch. All parts of the cages must be tight enough to pre- 

 vent the escape of the newly hatched insects and the sifting out of sand 

 or soil. The bottom in both cages is built up with the cypress to form 

 a box about 2% inches deep. 



The larger cage is 25 inches long, 15 inches wide, and 18 inches high. 

 A sliding tray for the floor which may be pulled out without otherwise 

 opening the cage, while not essential, greatly facilitates cleaning the 

 cage. The front is a glass plate fitted into grooves above and below so 

 that it slides in from one end. It may be cut vertically at the center for 

 greater ease in handling. Such a cage will accommodate several hundred 

 newly hatched grasshoppers and twenty-five to fifty adults, depending 

 upon their size and hardiness. Crystallizing dishes 2 or 3 inches deep 

 or even cigar boxes packed firmly with damp sand are placed in these 

 cages during the egg-laying period. If eggs of known age are desired the 

 sand may be removed and gently sifted daily. 



The smaller cage is 7 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 8 inches high. 

 The front is a glass plate fitted vertically into grooves. It is cut about 

 3 inches from the bottom so that the top part may be slipped up to open 

 the cage, thus the bottom of the cage will hold sand to the depth of 3 

 inches. Twelve to twenty-five young individuals may be kept in such a 

 cage. The amount of care necessary varies greatly with the hardiness 

 of the species. For the immature insects a thin layer of clean, dry sand 

 is kept on the floor and changed as often as cleanliness demands. Mold 

 must be avoided. When it is time for eggs to be deposited, 3 inches of 

 sand is placed in the bottom and the cage dipped in water every week 

 or ten days. The egg pods may be obtained by passing the sand through 

 a sieve. After ten days to two weeks of development the eggs of most 

 species reach the diapause and may be stored in moist sand in a re- 

 frigerator. After a few weeks they may be removed to an incubator or 

 a laboratory room in batches as desired and will resume development. 



