70 BULLETIN 67, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



a beginner, a bottomless tin can, supported by a wire frame over a 

 flame, is an effective substitute. Mr. Merrick has devised a very 

 elaborate apparatus for inflating larvae which is warranted not to 

 injure the specimens and demands but little attention. It is figured 

 in Entomological News, 1908, page 10. 



The inflated specimen is pinned as follows: A piece of copper wire 

 is twisted around the middle of a small cube of cork, which is pierced 

 by a pin. Then the wire is bent to form an oval or diamond-shaped 

 loop about one-sixth of an inch long and again twisted to the end. 

 This twisted part is inserted into the larval skin or the larval skin 

 mounted upon it from below by a little shellac. With practice one 

 can become expert in inflating larvae, so as to preserve the shape and 

 natural colors. Instead of a fine-pointed glass tube some use a straw, 

 but this is hardly as satisfactory a method. The blown' larva may 

 also be preserved by placing it in a glass tube and fastening this tube 

 in the collection. 



A great variety of larvae may be inflated by this method, but the 

 larvae of Coleoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera keep very well in 



alcohol or some similar liquid. 

 Some entomologists have recom- 

 mended preparing the larvae of 

 Microlepidoptera without press- 

 ing out their contents. This is 

 done by placing them in a tin box of sand and heating it with 

 the flame from an alcohol lamp. The gas generated in the larva 

 inflates it and keeps the skin stiff when dry. They may be gummed 

 to cardboard points or mounted in the same way as other lepidop- 

 terous larva?. Mr. Busck, however, prepares the larvae of Micro- 

 lepidoptera on the same plan as used for the Macros. The glass 

 tubes have very fine points. The contents of the larva is rolled 

 out as usual. The point of a glass tube is then inserted into the 

 end of the larva and then for a moment put in the oven. This heat- 

 ing attaches the skin to the glass tubing. Then it is blown as usual 

 by the rubber bulb. When dry, he does not attempt to remove 

 the larva from the glass, but cuts the glass near the larva and 

 mounts it by the use of a micro-pin touched with shellac and 

 fastened through the tube into the larva, the other end in a small 

 cork square mounted upon an ordinary insect pin. This work 

 should be done as rapidly as possible, for the skin will dry if not 

 blown at once after the removal of the contents. 



Fig. 115.— A clip for holding caterpillars. 



