78 THE entomologist's record. 



Bractical hints. 



The Month. — On mild evenings during this month, many of the 

 hibernated larva? will wake up from their winter sleep, and as some 

 were nearly, if not quite, full-fed before hibernation, seem now only 

 to seek a suitable place for pupation. Among these may be mentioned, 

 Apamea nnaniiiiis, A. basilinea, Bombyx ruhi, &c. 



Many smaller (hibernated) larvjB will be seen eagerly devouring 

 the yoimg sallow and bramble leaves, but these had better be left in 

 their wild state until next month, and the energies of the collector 

 devoted to the tempting sallow bloom, which, in favourable weather, 

 ought to be throwing out its " sweets," to which insects throng in 

 great profusion, more especially the Taniocampa, all of which have 

 been captured at this natural bait ; the luscious meal seems to intoxi- 

 cate insect life, thereby rendering capture easy. They may be either 

 boxed singly off the bloom, or an umbrella may be held under the 

 bvish and the insects shaken into it ; probably the latter method would 

 be the better, as some might be overlooked. 



Many freshly emerged species appear this month, specially the rare 

 Endromiiii versicolor in birch woods. Petatiia nnheculosa, entirely Scotch 

 and very local. Notodonta carmelita is said to fly in the sunshine, and 

 to be attracted by puddles; has also been taken at sallow. Nyssia 

 liispidaria, on oak trunks, ? wingless, Eiehmond Park is a well-known 

 locality, also Epping Forest. Insects enumerated in February list still 

 to be searched for. — J. P. Mutch, 



Early Spring Emergences. — Nyssia hispidaria and TepJirosia 

 crepusmlaria were out in numbers very early tliis year. I heard of 

 both by the ISth of February. It is to be trusted that specimens of 

 the latter will l)e obtained from localities not usually worked so early. 

 Botli species will probably continue until the end of March. — J. W. 



TUTT. 



Bombyx rubi. — As I have bred a great niimber of Bombyx rnhi, it 

 may be of interest to some of the readers of the Ent. Record to know 

 how the larvte are managed. They are collected in the first or 

 second week of October, and placed in a large emjity wine case, wliich 

 is aboiit 30 inches long, 14 inches broad, 20 inches high at the back, and 

 15 inches high in front ; the size of the space in the back of the box for 

 ventilation is 15 by 5 inches, covered with perforated zinc ; the case 

 covered with a close fitting glazed frame and made secure with hooks. 

 The case is placed out of doors. In the inside, at each end of the 

 case, a layer, about 6 inches deep, of Sphaf/num moss is placed for 

 the larvaj to hybernate in ; no moss is put into the centre of the box 

 where the jelly jar stands, which contains the food plant for the larva. 

 So soon as the larvae are full-fed, they hybernate, rolled up in a close 

 ring. When the warm weatlier returns in spring, the larvfe come 

 fl'om their place of hyljernation and s}nn up, generally on the top of 

 the Sphaynmii moss. I have taken the virgin females to the moors in 

 a box covered with strong gauze, where I knew the larvae had been 

 plentiful, and it is astonishing the number of males that were attracted. 

 In one evening I have brought home over 80 male specimens attracted 

 by the virgin females ; in fact, they came so fast that I had nu time to 

 pin or box ; I gave the thorax of the good specimens a pinch witli my 

 finger and thumb below the fore wings, and laid them down. The 



