SOUTH AFRICAN CATERPILI-ARS 191 ^ 



cages should be looked over at least once a day, say 

 every morning, fresh food supplied, and the cage cleaned 

 out. When the caterpillars have pupated and the 

 imagines are expected to appear shortly, the cage should 

 be inspected twice daily, in the morning and in the late 

 afternoon at dusk, as these appear to be the favourite 

 times for the emergence of the adults. If an entire day 

 and night are allowed to elapse between the examina- 

 tions, we often find that the moth or butterfly, as the 

 case may be, has been flying about in the confined space 

 of the breeding cage; and, as a result, the specimen has 

 become rubbed and otherwise damaged. 



The adult should be removed as soon as its wings have 

 become fully expanded and hardened. In the case of 

 some Psijchidae the moth starts flying almost imme- 

 diately after the wings have become fit for flight; these 

 insects must be carefully watched during the entire pro- 

 cess of emergence and must be killed the moment they 

 show signs of restlessness after the wings have dried. 



With most butterflies we find that they also start flying 

 soon after emergence. In the case of the larger 

 Heterocera however, a considerable time is allowed to 

 elapse between emergence and flight. No rule can be 

 given which will hold good in all cases, and experience 

 is the only reliable teacher. But it is advisable to keep 

 close watch on the newly emerged individuals and kill 

 them as soon as the}^ begin to show signs of restlessness. 



Recording of observations and the keeping of notes. 



This b}' far the most important part of the breeding 

 work, is unfortunately, also the one which, thus far, has 

 received the least attention. The great majority of our 

 South African collectors rear the insect from the younger 

 stages, either for the sake of obtaining perfect specimens 

 of the adult forms or for the purpose of having represen- 

 tatives of the caterpillars in the cabinet. What usually 

 happens is this : A collector, while on the hunt for the 

 adult forms, sees some striking caterpillar and takes it 



