1908 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 65 



COLLECTING WITH A LANTERN TEAP DURING THE SEASON 



OF 1908. 



By J, J). Evans, Trenton. 



The apparatus used during this season consisted of a quart gem jar 

 charged with cyanide of potassium. The jar was prepared in the following 

 manner, lumps of the cyanide of potassium were distributed over the bot- 

 tom of the jar upon which were placed cork crumbs to the depth of about 

 1^ inches — then plaster of Paris formed with water to the consistency of 

 cream poured in to the depth of about 1| inches, (although a ^ inch or f inch 

 would have been sufficient.) In all other respects the trap was prepared 

 and set up as described in the Canadian Entomologist for May, 1907. The 

 plaster of Paris gives a better bottom and remains in better condition than 

 the cotton batting filling as there described. This jar remained in good 

 condition for at least three months' service, then getting weak a f inch hole 

 was bored in the plaster of Paris and lightly stopped with a loose plug of 

 cotton batting and a small quantity of chloroform poured into the hole by 

 the aid of a glass funnel, a charge thus made would last for several nights. 



Collecting with the trap was commenced in the first week of June and 

 continued daily uninterruptedly until the end of September, except for a 

 night very occasionally when it was raining — there is no record of these 

 nights during June and July, but perhaps one night in each month would 

 be the limit, but in August the 12th was the only exception and the 28th 

 in September. The 4th September was a very cold night and the trap was 

 not put out. 



A daily record of the number of moths taken was not kept during June 

 and July, but frequently the number exceeded 200 and upon one night the 

 number was 434. During August the total number of moths taken was 

 2,724, the greatest number in any one night being on the 31st, when 220 

 were taken; the smallest number on the 24th, when 21 were taken. In 

 September the total was 893. The largest catch being on the 5th, 160 moths 

 and the smallest on the 15th and 19th, which were each only 2. These 

 nights being very cool, the 29th and 30th being very cold nights nothing 

 was taken. 



Besides the moths, insects of several other orders were taken. Beetles 

 of a considerable number of species, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera 

 (principally leaf hoppers of many species), Trichoptera, and Neuroptera. 

 Upon some nights the jar would be almost full of myriads of Phrygania 

 flies, midges, and other insects, and upon one occasion the jar was not only 

 full but the mass extended up some distance into the paper funnel. 



One might imagine that the moths would become spoiled with the multi- 

 tude of occupants, but such is not the case, for many a moth was taken 

 with its scales and fringes in perfect condition, even if in company with 

 large beetles, such as the Lachnostemas. 



With the exception of the moths, the captures in the other 

 orders have not yet been named and listed for want of time, but with the 

 moths there have been 281 species listed and a large number yet unnamed 

 more particularly among the Micros, 



5 EN. 



