﻿NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



169 



have quite a contrary effect ; the larvae may feed up very quickly, 

 but the imagines are frequently small and stunted. This may 

 very likely be due to the fact that great heat dries up foliage and 

 makes it much less succulent, besides making it more difficult 

 for the larvfe to eat, so that the latter cannot consume enough 

 to keep pace with their rate of development ; and what they do 

 consume has very little moisture in it — a commodity most 

 essential to a larva's well-being. 



Hybernating Larv^. 



The successful hybernation of larvfe is, in my opinion, the 

 most difficult part of larva rearing, and there are comparatively 

 few species that a breeder can bring through the winter, unless 

 he has the use of a garden of fairly large dimensions. The 

 majority of hybernating larva require to be on or near their 

 food-plant to live through the winter, and there is little doubt 

 that many larvae feed far more during hybernation than many 

 persons suppose. Low-feeding larvae may be successfully treated 

 in a cage in which is placed a flower-pot planted with what they 

 feed on. I would, however, suggest that whatever the plant 

 may be that the larvae fancy, a little grass should also be put 

 in the pot, for I have found that quite a number of species which 

 never touch grass at other times will frequently nibble it during 

 the winter months. 



Tree- and bush-feeding larvae are best hybernated in sleeves 

 on their special food-plant. The best position to place the larvae 

 in for the winter is not necessarily the warmest corner of the 

 garden. In fact, if the cages are protected from rain and the 

 sleeves from birds, the colder the position the better, provided it 

 is not too exposed to north and east winds. In hybernation, 

 like everything else, however, the special habits of the species 

 being dealt with must be considered. I would add one point, 

 and that is, that if the cages are entirely protected from rain, the 

 flower-pots inside should be regularly watered, and that it is 

 well to introduce into the cages something besides the food- 

 plant for tlie larvae to rest on. Of course, there are some larvae 

 that eat nothing during their hybernation, and can be kept 

 through the winter in any suitable cage or box in which is placed 

 a little sterilized moss or wood-wool. 



(To be continued.) 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Vanessa antiopa in Kent. — While fishing for trout on a stream 

 here about a week ago I saw and captured a specimen of Vanessa 

 antiopa. It was a hybernated specimen, of course, and was con- 

 siderably damaged, I have never seen a specimen of this butterfly 



ENTOM.— JULY, 1915. P 



