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NOTES ON FORCING CROCALLIS ELINGUARIA, AND 

 AN ATTEMPT TO HYBRIDISE WITH ODONTO- 

 PERA B WEN TATA. 



By W. Bowater, Lieut. R.A.M.C.T., F.E.S. 



In February, 1913, I received a batch of about one hundred 

 ova laid by a wild female Crocallis elingiiaria. They were kept 

 in a bacteriological incubator at G8° F. A few hatched each 

 day from March 3rd-16th inclusive, all proving fertile. About 

 sixty of the larvae were kept in the incubator, and were fed on 

 Primus pizzardi, and later on hawthorn. They varied very 

 much in rate of growth. 



On March 31st the first pupated, three on April 1st, and a few 

 daily till April 17th. The temperature in the incubator varied 

 from 66' F.-TB"" F. ; almost all light was excluded, but the air 

 was moisture-laden, and there was some ventilation. Inside 

 measurement, 12" x 10" x 9". 



Glass-topped metal boxes were used to contain the larvae for 

 about the first half of their existence, then an ordinary breeding 

 cage. 



The rest of the larvaB (about thirty) were kept after hatching 

 in a room with temperature varying from 45° F.-60° F. The 

 last of these pupated May 3rd. In all about fifteen larvte died. 



The pupae were kept in the incubator till May 17th, and 

 were then taken to Rhyl, and kept in a warm room. A male 

 emerged on May 20th at 5 p.m. Tried with two female 

 Odontopera bidentata, but did not pair. A female emerged on 

 22nd, and was tried with males of bidentata, without result. 



On 28th two females and on 29th one female elinguaria 

 emerged, and were put with four male bidentata type. One 

 couple paired at 10 p.m. on 29th, and were still m cop. at 

 midnight. They had separated at 7 a.m. next day. 



No ova were deposited till June 6th. The female died on the 

 10th, having laid twenty-five ova, infertile. 



Less than 5 per cent, of the elinguaria were crippled ; most 

 were full sized, and all were practically normal in colour. They 

 paired freely inter se, and deposited over one thousand ova. 



I hope some day to repeat the experiment, but trust some one 

 else will try this year. The chief difficulty is to retard the 

 emergence of the bidentata pupae, as low temperatures often 

 fail to do this. 



I am much indebted to Mr. J. W. H. Harrison for advice on 

 this matter. 



Moseley, Birmingham : February 20th, 1915. 



