COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS BANKS. 77 



willow blossoms, will furnish many valuable species, which are not 

 seen again during the rest of the season. 



Myrmeeopliilous and Termitopldlous species. — The early spring is 

 also the best time for collecting the Myrmecophilous and Termitoph- 

 ilous Coleoptera. Termitophilous species have in North America 

 hitherto been found only in connection with the white ants (Termes 

 flavipes), and the inquilinous beetles are found running among the 

 white ants in the colonies under stones, loose bark of trees, and more 

 numerously in the interior of old infested trees. Myrmecophilous 

 Coleoptera are by far more numerous in species than the Termitoph- 

 ilous species and are found among many species of ants which have 

 their nests either under stones or loose bark of trees, in stumps or logs, 

 or which construct larger or smaller hills. Upon uncovering a colony 

 of ants under a stone, the underside of the latter as well as the gal- 

 leries of the ants in the ground should be carefully examined for 

 inquilines, which from their greater or slighter resemblance to the 

 ants are liable to be overlooked by an inexperienced collector. If 

 such colony of ants harbors a rare beetle the 

 subterranean part of the colony itself should be 

 dug out and sifted, but since from the stony 

 nature of the ground this is not always practi- 

 cable it is to be recommended to carefully 

 replace the stone under which the colony has 

 been found. Upon revisiting the spot again 

 the next day or even a few hours after the first 

 visit additional specimens of the inquilines are 

 usually to be obtained on the stone or in the FlG - 120 -~ A l°ngicorn bee- 



;;..... „, . ,.. TLE, Saperda cretata. 



superficial galleries or the ants. Ant colonies in 



hollow trees and in rotten logs should be sifted and there is no par- 

 ticular difliculty connected with this operation. Owing to the pug- 

 nacious character of the hill-constructing ants it would seem to be a 

 rather unpleasant task to examine a strong and vigorous colony for 

 inquilinous beetles, but the collector must not mind being bitten and 

 stung by the infuriated ants, and after a little experience he will find 

 that it is not such a difficult thing after all to attack even the largest 

 ant-lull. The only thorough way of investigating such ant-lulls is to 

 sieve the same, which can be easily done if the hill is composed of 

 sticks and other vegetable debris. If it is built of earth or sand the 

 process of sifting is more difficult and tedious. Another method of 

 securing specimens of these inquilinous beetles is to place flat stones 

 or similar objects on the surface of the ant-lull and to examine them 

 occasionally, when the beetles will be found on the underside of the 

 traps. 



S pring flights of Coleoptera. — On the first really warm days of spring 

 commences the "swarming" season of Coleoptera, when all winged 



