NOTES ON SILK-PRODUCING BOMBYCES. lol 



On the 26tb they were placed on the little oak trees in my 

 garden, the trees being under a large framework covered jDartly 

 with wire, partly with fish-netting. The fish-netting had become 

 so rotten that sparrows got in and destroyed all the larvte I had, 

 as I mentioned before. The yama-mai larvae were in their last 

 stage and in splendid condition ; they were destroyed about the 

 middle of June, all on the same day. The second stage of the 

 larvae commenced on May 11th ; the third stage on the 28th ; the 

 fourth on June 8rd ; the fifth about June 14th. There were 

 about four dozen worms. 



It may be of importance to record the following fact : On the 

 4th or 5th of May there was a sudden change of temperature, 

 the weather turned cold and wet. Some of the yama-mai worms 

 had been placed on young shoots or suckers, which had started 

 from the crowns of oak trees, the stems of which had perished 

 after the moving of the trees to their new quarters. In con- 

 sequence of this sudden change of weather, I covered with 

 a large bell-glass the suckers of one of the little trees, on which 

 I had placed eighteen young larvae, to watch their progress, and see 

 if they would grow faster or better than those which had been 

 left entirely unprotected. Some days after, I perceived a large 

 quantity of ants under the glass ; there was a nest at the root of 

 the tree. This was a very unpleasant discovery. What was 

 I to do under the circumstances ? I wished the larvae to remain 

 on the foliage, which grew splendidly under the glass ; on the 

 other hand I was afraid the ants would destroy the little worms. 

 I took half a dozen worms away, and left the others to take their 

 chance with the ants, which went over the leaves and everj'where 

 under the glass. The larv89, however, continued to thrive ; not 

 one disappeared ; the ants crawled over them, but never did them 

 any harm. It has been often stated that ants are very destructive 

 and dangerous to young silkworms, but on this occasion no harm 

 was done. Had the cold and wet weather paralysed or weakened 

 their organs so as to make their biting powerless ? Therein may 

 be found the true cause. However it may be, it is some consola- 

 tion to know that ants are not at all times such dangerous 

 enemies as one might suppose. 



(To be continued.) 



