THE LEPIDOPTERIST 



45 



Notes on Collecting, Preparing and Preserva- 

 tion of Ledidoptera 

 By Rudolph C. B. Bartsch, Roslindale, Mass. 



(Continued.) 



During the warm clays of late April and early May 

 we find the little reddish colored Geometer Brefos 

 infans, reminding one of our small copper-colored 

 Chrysophanus hypophlaeas, flying among the birches 

 and alders. The cutting of gagshes in the birch-trees 

 allowing the sap to flow- makes a very good bait for 

 this little moth. 



Among the butterflies appearing at this time of the 

 year, we have the early seasonal form of Colias phi- 

 lodice, Pieris rapse forma immaculata, the various 

 forms of Lycsena psuedargiolus, and the sombre col- 

 ored Theclas. The Theclas and Lyczenas can be found 

 in sunny barren wood paths where violets are bloom- 

 ing or on the blue-berry blossoms along the edges of 

 the paths. Many of the Theclas are uncommon and 

 are in many cases quite local in their distribution. 

 For the collector desiring members of the Hesperida 

 group the month of May is most ideal in this vicinity. 

 With the blooming of the lilacs, aszelias and rhoda- 

 dendrons we find many of our Hawk moths seeking 

 the "Sweets" late in the afternoon, just before it be- 

 fore it becomes dusk. As the season advances the 

 number of species increases rapidly until the maximum 

 is reached in the middle of June. Then the flight 

 decreases gradually to the early part of August when 

 when there is again a steady increase to the latter 

 part of September. From this time on the flight of 

 the insects depends on the weight of the early frosts. 

 To collectors of the Xoctuid group, especially the 

 forms which appear in the fall and hibernate over the 

 winter appearing agagign on the wing in early spring, 

 T would recommend "sugaring" in the late fall. At 

 this time many of the "hard-to-get" species are at 

 seasons quite plentiful, in beautiful condition, and 



