COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS — BANKS. 



47 



put in a large shallow pan of gasoline and covered with a pane of 

 glass and left for some horns, frequently over night. Then pick 

 them out and lay on blotting paper and the gasoline soon evapo- 

 rates, leaving the moths clean and bright as though never wet. 



Another light trap is shown in the accompanying illustration 

 (fig. 88). It consists of a box larger in front than behind and at- 

 tached behind to a lantern. Within the box are three panes of 

 glass, placed obliquely (two will do). The moth flying against the 

 outer pane rises and enters, then falls and enters beneath the second 

 glass; as it hits the side of the lantern it falls into the cyanide jar 

 beneath. In case it does not fall at once, it does not readily escape 

 owing to the position of the glass panes. The back of the lamp box 

 should be hinged with cloth so that the light may be readily inserted 

 and removed. The cyanide jar can be attached by cloth or screwed 



Fig. 88.— The Brooklyn light trap. 



in. The great advantage of these light traps is that they work over 

 night. It is best to paint the inside of these traps white and the 

 outside black or green. A pint Mason jar may be used for the cyanide 

 jar, the top with center cut out fastened to trap, and jar screwed up 

 into it. A bottomless tomato can may be used for the smoke vent, 

 and the panes of glass can be held in place by strips of upturned tin 

 or by nails. Anyone who desires to form a collection of moths will 

 find some form of light trap indispensable. 



Sugaring. — Many insects, especially moths, have a fondness for 

 sweets. Entomologists have taken advantage of this by smearing 

 some sweet mixture upon the trunks of trees. This is known as 

 sugaring. The mixture should be placed on the trees at twilight, 

 and upon a number of trees. If there is a breeze the sugar should 

 be placed on the leeward side of the trees. Then as darkness comes 

 on one may go from tree to tree, and by the aid of a lantern (a dark 



