Fig. 39 is best. It measures 16" high x 

 12" long x 10" wide, is constructed of 

 carefully fitted sides and top of screen 

 wire that are hooked together and can be 

 taken apart for easy storage when not in 

 use. A door in one end permits an en- 

 trance for cleaning, renewing food mate- 

 rial, etc., or the top may be removed if 

 desired. The bottom is a wooden tray 4" 

 deep. This type of cage will permit the 

 simulation of a wide variety of habitats. 



Fig. 39. Breeding cage adaptable for a variety 

 of habitats. 



Another useful breeding chamber is 

 made with a flower pot, soil, an open jar 

 and a lamp chimney as illustrated in Fig. 

 40. The flower pot is filled with soil in 

 which the jar is buried so that the top is 

 open at the soil surface. Water is kept in 

 the jar and food plants have their cut ends 

 thrust here to keep the leaves and stems 

 fresh and succulent. The large end of a 

 lamp chimney is embedded in the soil and 

 a piece of gauze tied over the top to pre- 

 vent the escape of the living insects. This 

 type of cage is particularly useful for in- 

 sects which require soil in which to com- 

 plete their metamorphosis. 



A fruit jar containing moist sand or a 

 moist sponge is good for ground inhabit- 

 ing larvae or for galls. Naked pupae may 

 be kept in good condition thru the winter 

 months if placed on top of one inch of 

 moist soil and very lightly covered with 

 just enough of the soil to bury them. (Fig. 

 41.) They shoidd be sprinkled with a 

 moderate amount of water weekly. Co- 

 coons and chrysalids can be laid on top of 

 the soil and the whole placed in a cool 

 place. 



Fig. 40. Breeding chamber made with a 

 lamp chimney. 



Balanced aquaria provide the most suit- 

 able habitats for aquatic insects. Small 

 tanks or even jars of water (Fig. 42) in 

 which a balance between plant and animal 

 life can be maintained should be used 

 since it is unwise to put a large number of 

 specimens together. 



An aquarium is made as follows: 



1. Clean the tank or jar thoroughly. 



2. Place clean sand in the bottom to a depth 

 of an inch or two. 



3. Carefully plant the roots of fresh, green Val- 

 lisineria or Sagittaria in the sand. Cut plants of 

 Elodea may also be used and should have the 

 cut ends buried. The above plants are recom- 

 mended because they are good oxygenators. 



4. Cently pour in water from a clear pond or 

 stream, being careful not to disturb the rooted 



Fig. 41. Preparing naked larvae and cocoons 

 for storage over winter. 



