42 mr. a. j. t. janse : how to collect and 



Collecting at Dusk, 



At dusk quite a nuinber of moths fly about (Sphingids, 

 Phytometrids, etc.), and several of these can be captured 

 only at that time. It is a good plan to grow near the home 

 some flowers with the view of attracting such dusk-flyers. 

 Petunias, honeysuckle, etc., are A'ery good for the purpose. 

 The catching is done with the net, and when it gets rather 

 dark it is a great helf) to have somebody hold a small lantern 

 (bulTs-eye) so as to throw sonu) lighten to the flowers, and on 

 the net when transferring the insect. At this time of the 

 day some small moth specialities may be obtained by sweep- 

 ing the big net gently through the grass ; Pterophorids and 

 Tineids may be caught in this manner. 



Rearing. 



This is such an extensive and sucli an important means of 

 obtaining specimens and, what is more, information about 

 the species, that I will leave the subject for some future 

 occasion, when I will devote a specinl article to it. 



('Ollecting at Night. 



There are two principal methods of night collecting, 

 " sugaring" and attracting moths by liglit. The first method 

 is very uncertain and less successful in South Africa than in 

 Europe. I must confess that 1 cannot account for this, but 

 I have come to that conclusion after making many attempts. 

 For those who wish to gi\e it a trial I will describe the 

 method briefly. The following is a good mixture for 

 "sugaring." Take 1 lb. of brown sugar, ;| lb. treacle, and 

 J bottle of beer ; mix and heat to l)oiling point, stirring all 

 the time. Put this in a corked bottle until wanted for use. 

 Before using, add a wine-glass of rum and stir well. With 

 a stiff brush, paint the mixture on tree-trunks, rocks, etc., 

 within easy reach, say breast-high. This painting might be 

 done at dusk, and every place should be well marked so as to 

 find it easily in the dark. The best places for "sugaring" 

 are glades, edges of bushes, etc., l)ut it is as well to select 



