133 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



THE PRESERVATION OF LARV^ BY INFLATION. 



By J. W. TuTT, F.E.S. 



Mr. Hall asks (Entom. 114, 115) whether "it is possible to 

 preserve minute larvse by inflation." 



As I have preserved a very great many larvae by inflation 

 without any serious difliculty and on a very simple plan, I think 

 I may say it is quite possible. Of course a great deal of tact and 

 care is required in the manipulation of the smaller ones, and, 

 however careful one ma}^ be, I think it impossible to preserve 

 them without spoiling one now and again, but they can be done 

 with extreme rapidity when once mounted ; and the process I 

 adopt is neither " difficult nor tedious." At the same time, I do 

 not see the scientific value of preserving small larvae, and have 

 altogether given up doing so. Among our Tortrices and Tinese, 

 especially among the smaller species, the small points of difterence 

 between closely -allied species are, even in well-preserved speci- 

 mens, well-nigh lost, and a good drawing or description of one's 

 own, made from the actual living larva, is, in my mind, of much 

 greater value. The coloration and markings of many minute 

 larvse are dependent, to a great extent, on the alimentary canal 

 and the dorsal vessel, especially the former, the actual outside 

 membrane being, when the viscera have been taken out, almost 

 transparent and devoid of its natural coloration. For this reason, 

 the murder of the little fellows seems unattended with any 

 positively good result ; hence, as I have previously stated, I have 

 abandoned the plan of preserving or inflating these larvee when 

 there seems no scientific return for my trouble. 



Many of the Geometers also fall under the same category ; 

 but there are in this group some striking exceptions, the genus 

 Etqjithecia standing out conspicuously. The colours and mark- 

 ings of most of tliese larvte are retained in their entirety, and the 

 rate at which one can do them is surprising ; their bodies are so 

 small that they dry almost immediately. I think anyone with 

 practice could inflate at least twenty specimens of E. oblongata 

 icentaureata) in an hour. I have inflated five of that species and 

 five of E. ahsyntliiata in less than half the time. 



The preserved larvae of Bombyces and Noctuae, however, add 

 great interest to a collection. Tlieir colours are generally retained 



