82 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA. 



Many of the Ichneumons and other flies are very 

 destructive to these " stick caterpillars," some of them 

 being of good size, whilst others are almost microscopic, 

 and may be bred from either the cocoons of the Metura 

 or Entometa by any one who may care to investigate 

 these interesting and useful matters for themselves. 



To those of my readers who may have leisure for 

 making experiments with artificially reared parasites, I 

 may mention that all that is necessary is a small box, say, 

 12 inches square, with perforated zinc sides, glass front, 

 and door at back, and in this box the larvae, chrysalides, 

 and cocoons of various insects could be enclosed. The 

 food-plant, which, if possible, should be a natural one, 

 should be placed with its stem in a small jar of wet sand 

 or water for the purpose of preserving its freshness, and 

 a small circular piece of tin or stout paste-board placed 

 over the top of the jar would prevent a possibility of 

 the grubs falling into the water from above and being 

 drowned. 



The glass front will enable any one to watch for the 

 parasites which escape from the specimens enclosed for the 

 purpose, and these can then be captured and preserved, 

 care being taken to j^roperly and correctly note time of 

 emergence, &c. 



This rearing process is not only useful, but highly 

 instructive, and may be the means of making important 

 discoveries, useful alike to the grower and to the 

 naturalist. 



