-58- 



blackish, tipped with black bristles. Both in habit and appearance, the 

 larva of G. vermiculata reminded me strongly of those of CalUmorpha 

 dominu/a, and a similar remark has been made by Lord VValsingham 

 in regard to another species of the genus. I confess, I cannot see she re- 

 semblance to the Acronycto' pointed out by Mr. j^ruce, except in a mcist 

 distant way. There is a ratlier smaller and different form of Gtiophala 

 found in Chaffee C\). in Aiigu>t : 1 fancied it might be distinct, but one 

 sent to the Smiihsonian Institute is named G. vermiculata. 



To Free Breeding Cages from Disease Germs. 

 By Geo. D. Hulst. 



In the vicinity of Brooklyn during the last few years there has pre- 

 vailed a disease which has carried oft' not onlv the caterpillars many 

 have endeavored to raise, but verv often larva? have been found in the 

 open air dead or d\iiig. Catei pillars seem to differ very much m their 

 sen-itiveness to the disea-e, but in conlint-d Ijoxes, where it has pie- 

 vaiieii, ail succumb to its influence. In the open air in the Autumn 

 full grown caterpillars o{ Saturnia lo. , may be' some years seen barg- 

 ing dead from the hranchts on which thty have fed Last Summer I 

 saw a liekl of grain almnst devoured by tl.e Army Worm Leucania iini- 

 piiiic/a, when suddenly the di-ease appeared am^ng them and in a day 

 or two none seemed lo be alive. The stadss and giound were however 

 covered with dead caterpillars. 



However much we m,iv desire the disease in the open air to destroy 

 injurious insects, we do ml want it in our lireeding boxes, to destroy 

 OLir 1 antics. 



How shall we rid ourselves of it.? If die cages be made in part or 

 all ol WH)od we would advise their utter desiiuciion. 



If large number^ arc to he raised use ihe oi)en air and netting. If 

 smaller numbers or mriiies use glassware. 



I am told by !\Ir Hermann .Meeske, wli has done considcr.il/Ie ex- 

 perimenting that he has (ouinl no gooil re ulls to come from washing 

 with soap, benzine, alcohol or carbolic acid water. 



'1 he only successful way of destroying th' seeds of the disease was 

 to thoroughly boil die ffe^iing cages. He found that the i^em.s or 

 micrcjbes would withstand any temperature 1 clow the actual boiling 

 point. 



We give his experience ti> thcxse who m v liave suffered fro ir. the 

 flisease as the writer has during the last 4 or 5 vcars. 



