1903] Gibson — Hunting for Caterpillars. 77 



HUNTING FOR CATERPILLARS. 



By Arthur Gibson, 



The study of insect life is so intensely interesting that it is 

 difficult to say which branch of entomology is the most fascin- 

 ating ; each has its own devotees. One branch of the subject 

 which certainly is exceptionally useful and fascinating, is the col- 

 lection and study ot our native caterpillars. Of late years much 

 has been done in working out the life-histories of American in- 

 sects, but there is still a vast field in which to make research. 

 The life-histories of our butterflies are fairly well known, but only 

 a very small per entage of the larvae of even our common moths 

 have been studied. Lepidopterous larvae can be collected at any 

 time of the year, but the best opportunities are to be found during 

 the summer for acquiring a knowledge of these interesting 

 creatures. 



It is strange that most people seem to regard caterpillars 

 as repulsive, horrid things ; but this, of course, can only be 

 accounted for by the fact that they have never really taken the 

 trouble to look at one. None of Nature's children are horrid. It 

 is only our unfortunate uninterestedness that is accountable for 

 such inaccurate views. There is really nothing in nature which is 

 not beautiful, if carefully examined and properly understood, and, 

 even those caterpillars which are thought by many to be most 

 repulsive, are of themselves not at all responsible for feelings 

 akin to disgust or horror. When exhibiting a case of butterflies 

 or moths, it is quite usual for the onlooker to make some remark 

 regarding the beauty of the specimens ; but, when shown the 

 caterpillars of these same species, our visitor, as a rule, shrinks 

 back, and a remark not at all corresponding with the first excla- 

 mation is heard. Although presenting sometimes a rather formid- 

 able appearance, with the exception of a very few kinds, which 

 are provided with irritating hairs, caterpillars are quite harmless. 

 Some of the Sphingidae will jerk their heads from side to side and 

 even snap their mandibles, but they are unable to bite any-tbiog: 



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