June, '10] BISHOPP: INSECT CATCHING MACHINE 315 



ward escape of the moths when they reach the back of the machine. 

 The upper one of the three lights, each of which has a reflector to 

 throw the light ahead, is situated at the extreme back end of a 

 tapering inverted trough made of screen. Just in front of this light 

 is a large torch the flame of which scorches the insects as they pass 

 backward over it to the stronger light behind. The bottom of the 

 torch container is removed occasionally and the moths emptied into 

 a bag and treated with kerosene to kill those not already dead. 



On account of the free flight of the bollworm moths it is difficult 

 to arrange a satisfactory practical test of such a machine on a lim- 

 ited area. During three successive nights in July a 40-acre field of 

 cotton was gone over and 1,440, 2,000 and 860 moths were captured 

 on the respective nights. An examination of the catch made in 31/2 

 hours during the night of July 27th showed the following insects to 

 have been captured: Heliothis obsoleta Fabr. 688 (409 females and 

 279 males), Loxostege siniilalis Guen. 157, Calycopis cecrops Fabr. 1, 

 miscellaneous Lepidoptera 72 (including several injurious forms), 

 Chrysopa sp. 1,906, Myrmeleonids 11, Tachinids 16, Syrphids 6, Tab- 

 anids 12, Sarcophagids 150, miscellaneous Diptera (small) several 

 hundred, Calacorus rapidus Say 762, Tettigonids and Jassids .(mostly 

 Diedrocephala coccinea Forst.) 68, Podisus 'maculivent7-is Say 2, 

 Diahrotica 12-punctata Fabr. 14, Elaterid 1, Bruchids 2. 



It was found that many of the bollworm moths captured were newly 

 emerged or gravid females, while with an ordinary trap light only 

 males and exhausted females are usually caught. 



It will be noted that a good many beneficial insects were captured 

 notably 1,906 adult Chrysopas. I believe that the majority of these 

 as well as other beneficial forms could be allowed to escape by putting 

 in larger meshed wire at the back end of the machine. This would of 

 course allow the escape of the smaller injurious insects as well. 



Despite the large size of the apparatus it is manipulated with great 

 ease except when the wind is blowing. A strong wind renders opera- 

 tion impossible. From 60 to 70 acres may be gone over in one night. 

 Mr. Sissom informed me that the cost of constructing one of these 

 machines is about $80. 



As has been suggested it has not been demonstrated that this ma- 

 chine can be utilized practically in the control of the bollworm, but 

 there is little doubt that some injure' may be prevented where it is 

 conscientiously used. 



