306 Phylum Arthropoda 



rearings. It was found that adult fruit flies filled the need, and of 

 course they were easy to rear in quantities. The technique used might 

 well be related, however, for it affords a simple way of capturing the 

 adults to be used as food for winter rearings. 



A lamp chimney covered at one end with a piece of cheesecloth, fas- 

 tened by means of a rubber band, was placed over a pint jar in which 

 a banana and the fruit flies were placed. In a short time, the chimney 

 was swarming with the adults. To capture a hundred or more specimens, 

 a 4-inch vial was slipped through a piece of cardboard, in which a suffi- 

 ciently large hole had been cut, and placed over the top of the chimney 

 as soon as the cheesecloth was removed. If an electric light was placed 

 above the vial, the desired number of flies was readily secured. When 

 this number was obtained, the vial was quickly corked and a dark cover 

 put over the chimney until the flies were scattered again. The chimney 

 was then re-covered with cheesecloth. 



The adults in the vial could be killed by placing it over a hot radiator 

 for a few minutes, or by applying the flame of a match to the bottom of 

 the vial. In the latter case, the fruit flies could be forced to the bottom 

 of the vial by sudden taps against something that would not break it. 

 Heat kills the flies quickly and does not injure them for feeding pur- 

 poses. 



Successive generations of two species of Mesovelia have been raised 

 in the laboratory. The reared adults readily paired and deposited fertile 

 eggs. 



Family nabidae 



A METHOD OF REARING TWO SPECIES OF NABIDAE 



F. G. Mundinger, N. Y. State Agricultural Experiment Station 



THE species here concerned are Nabis roseipennts and N . rufusculus. 

 These insects are fairly common throughout New York State during 

 the summer and may be captured by sweeping grass with an insect net. 

 Screen-topped lantern globes placed over potted grass stalks or small 

 raspberry plants make suitable breeding cages. Aphids are excellent 

 food for the nabids. A petri dish containing a small green leaf and a 

 drop or two of water serves well as a rearing cage for one or two nymphs. 

 These cages should be cleaned daily, fresh leaves and drops of water sup- 

 plied, and a few live aphids dropped in for the nymphs to feed upon. 

 Since the Nabidae are predacious it is not advisable to place more than 

 one or two in the same cage. 



I have not reared successive generations of these species. In this region 

 the nabids appear to be single-brooded. 



