1900 ] ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 79 



THE BREEDING OF LEPIDOPTERA, WITH NOTES ON THE INFLATION 



OF LAIIV^. 



By Arthur Gibson, Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. 



The value attached to the breeding of insects cannot be over-estimated. The facts 

 concerning the life-histories of species, resulting from careful work in rearing specimens, 

 are of the greatest importance, and any pe/son having a taste for this branch of study has 

 many opportunities, of doing excellent work. There is so much yet to be done in studying 

 out the life-histories of insects, and so few people who care to take the time or- trouble to 

 do careful work, that those who are disposed have a field in which employment of a useful 

 nature can be found. In the Order Lapidoptera alone there are hundreds of species 

 which have never been properly worked out, and information of an authentic nature in 

 regard to such is much desired. Facts concerning certain stages or habits of even some 

 •of our commonest butterflies and moths are badly wanted. 



In breeding Lepidoptera from the egg to the imago, there is much of interest to 

 observe. Some of the stages are intensely interesting, as everyone who has attempted 

 breeding with any degree of success knows. The true object of breeding insects is not to 

 get perfect specimens of the imago, but to study their earlier stages, taking careful notes 

 of observations made, and giving the result of information thus obtained to others, through 

 the medium of entomological publications. It cannot be said that such work is hard, but 

 at the same time great care and accuracy are required, without mentioning the need of a 

 good stock of patience. 



To meet with the best results, two very important points must be borne in mind, and 

 these are to see that the jars are kept thoroughly cleaned, and that sufficient, but not too 

 much, of fresh food-plant is always present. The larvse of butterflies, especially, require 

 extra care and attention to see that the breeding- jars are always clean, and that the food- 

 plant is kept fresh. Carelessness in this respect oftentimes causes failure. Breeding-jars 

 should be washed out at least every day, if the best results are desired, even twice a day 

 is not too often for delicate larvse. It is also often best to change the food plant twice a 

 day. 



In studying tne earlier stages in the life-history of a butterfly or moth, as soon as the 

 eggs Jiatch, it is well to put one of the larvse in a small jar, keeping it separate from the 

 others, so as to watch it carefully through its different moults. Two could be kept in the 

 same jar, but in&tead of this it is better to have two small jars, one for each caterpillar. 

 These should be kept beside the remainder of the brood, if any, so that they may also be 

 watched, as many vary in the same stage. It is important that careful descriptions of 

 the egg, the larva (in all its stages), the chrysalis, or pupa, and cocoon, if there is one, 

 should he made, noting in fact everything of importance bearing upon the life-history of 

 the species. 



For the most part ordinary jelly jars with tin lids will answer for breeding lepidop- 

 tera ; those with the rounded bottoms are preferable, as they do away with the chance 

 of moisture gathering in the corners. Two or three diff'erent sized jars are more con- 

 venient than having them all the same. Of course if a large number of the same larvae 

 are being reared bigger jars or breeding cages, will be found necessary. Some writers 

 recommend tin boxes of various sizes. These also are excellent receptacles, and it is 

 claimed that it is not necessary, when breeding sphingids, to put earth in the tin as the 

 larvse will readily pupate on the bottom of the box. 



Careful watth must be made for the moults of the larvae. Before moulting the cater- 

 pillar, as a rule, stops feeding for a day or so, during which time the front segments 

 become swollen, so much so that they appear larger than the head, which with the cast 

 skin, soon afterwards, usually during the following or the next day, is thrown ofi". 

 As soon as the larva has moulted, a careful description should be taken, noting its length, 

 shape, colour and arrangement of markings, size and shape of head, etc., etc. The cast 

 skin and head should be preserved in a small bottle, or box, with careful data. The 

 empty cocoon, pupa, or chrysalis, should also be preserved, as well as the egg shells. 



A method by which the eggs of many moths may be secured is to capture a female, 

 enclosing her alive in a small box for a day or so, and if she has not already laid eggs, it 



