xl European Butterflies axd Moths. 



If the breeding-cages are kept in a cellar, the food can be kept eatable for a longer time, and 

 there is less liability to mould, but in this case the cages must not be covered with glass ; and as 

 many of the smaller larvae will gnaw holes in gauze or muslin, and thus escape, fine and flexible 

 wire gauze will be found preferable to either for a covering. 



Another kind of cage for the larva; of ]\Iicro-Lcpidopiera, in which likewise the food may be 

 kept fresh by excluding the external air, may be formed of a flower-pot with a glass inverted into 

 it, of such a size as to fit the inside exactly. The bottom of the pot must be covered with earth, 

 but not high enough to reach so far up the sides as to where the glass rests, or else there is danger 

 that the larvre might spin up on the ground where it touches the glass, and be destroyed when the 

 glass is lifted off. But if we attempt to rear very small larvae in such a contrivance, and fear that 

 they might escape between the glass and the flower-pot, we must press the former down into the 

 ground, and heap the earth up a little round the edges. Instead of the glasses, we may cover the 

 flower-pots with very fine wire gauze, and put them in a cellar. 



The glasses with covers are more suitable for larvae which form their pupae on or in the 

 ground, and the flower-pots for those which spin up above ground. The latter like to make their 

 cocoons on the edge of the cage, and the inverted glass is a safer place for them than the cover of 

 glass or wire gauze. 



Most larvae of Micro-Lcpidoptera, and especially those which do not feed exposed on plants, 

 do very well in these closed glasses, especially in a cellar. Others, such as the case-bearing 

 Colcophorce, cannot be reared in this manner. They require as much fresh air as possible, and glass 

 covers cannot be used, and must be replaced with fine wire gauze when flower-pots are used. As 

 the food-plant cannot well be kept in water, the bottom of the flower-pot should be covered with 

 damp sand, and it should be stuck into this to keep it fresh. In the case of mining larvae, which 

 mostly grow to their full size in the same leaf, which must therefore be kept fresh till they are 

 full-grown, it is always best to keep the cages in the cellar ; and if the stalk of the leaf or 

 of the plant on which the larva is feeding is stuck in damp earth, it will keep fresh longer. 



There are some larvae which cannot be prevented from escaping by any of these contrivances, 

 as they can squeeze themselves through the smallest crevice, especially before spinning up. 

 Among these are several Tortrix larviE which inhabit fruits, such as Grapholillia Roscticolana 

 in hips, G. Pallifroittaiia in the pods of Lotus cor/iicii/atiis, as well as some mining larva;, such 

 as those of the genus Costiwptcryx, Gelccliia Siibdccurtclla, .%lz. These can only be reared in 

 wide-mouthed glass bottles with tightly-fitting glass stoppers or corks, which must nevertheless 

 be opened daily in order to give them fresh air. 



Necessary Precautions. — It is advisable in all cases to avoid putting too many larvae into one 

 cage, and the cages must be kept as clean as possible, and the excrements of the larvae carefully 

 removed. If there are too many larva; in one cage, they disturb each other, which is particularly 

 injurious when they are moulting, and is frequently the cause of epidemics, which destroy many 

 larvae. Accumulations of the excrements of larvae are injurious from their smell, and more 

 especially because they often give rise to mould. It can most easily be removed by means of a 

 small metal shovel. But when doing this, or when removing old food, or putting in fresh, it 

 is necessary to avoid disturbing the larvae, especially when they are moulting or changing. In 

 giving them fresh food, they are not to be taken from the old, but the fresh is to be laid near them 

 till they creep upon it themselves. When we find leaves spun together, or cocoons among the old 

 food, they must be left undisturbed in the cage until the larva which is hidden among them is 

 likely to have completed its change ; or if this is inconvenient, the plant and the cocoon must be 

 removed, without opening the latter, to another cage. It often happens that larva; about to change 



