14 



insects, and, whonovor nunibers of examples are found to be dead or 

 dying, specimens should be collected and submitted without delay to 

 some specialist on this class of diseases. 



METHODS OK COLLECTINCJ AND REARING LIVING MATERIAL. 



It is always desirable to collect living material to rear or breed for 

 the purpose of securing- data on life histories and habits. This will 

 consist of eggs, larva, and pupiB of foliage-infesting insects to be 

 reared in breeding cages; also bark, wood, branches, and twigs infested 

 with inmiature stages, to be reared to adults in breeding jars, boxes, 

 or cages. 



Specimens from the foliage should ])e collected in small tin boxes, 

 together with a small amount of their natural food. Some of the 

 smaller things may be roared in the boxes in which they are tirst col- 

 lected, if supplied from time to time with fresh food material, while 

 others must be transferred to breeding cages or larger tin boxes. Liv- 

 ing specimens in wood or ))ark are easily collected in sections cut from 

 the infested parts of the plant, and carried in the larger pockets of the 

 hunting coat; or, if a long distance from the lalwratory, they may be 

 packed in bundles or boxes and shipped b}^ the most convenient method 

 available. 



For breeding specimens from this kind of material, the writer has 

 secured excellent results b}^ the use of diU'erent-sized fruit jars with 

 clamp covers. The screw-topped jars are also very convenient for this 

 purpose. For very large sections, or a large amount of material of 

 one kind, tight barrels or large wood or galvanized-iron boxes may be 

 used to advantage. 



For carrying on the more elaborate work of rearing from wood and 

 bark, a specially constructed insectary is necessary. Wood and bark 

 infesting larvae and pupne, and parasitic larvae in cocoons, may he suc- 

 cessfully reared to adults in bottles or vials which are just large enough 

 to accommodate single specimens. These small vials with cork or cot- 

 ton stoppers are indeed specially convenient for the rearing of parasitic 

 larva^ and pup^e taken from the mines or pupa cases of the wood or 

 bark-inhabiting host. 



PKESERVIXG, MOUNTING, AND LABELING SPECIMENS. 



The specimens that are killed in 25 per cent alcohol should be 

 removed from the bottles in a day or two after they are collected, 

 then cleaned thoroughly and replaced in clear 80 or 90 per cent alco- 

 hol. The specimens killed in the cyanide bottle should be gone over, 

 separated, and either mounted or stored where they will be free from 

 museum pests. 



The specimens of work of insects should have the surplus parts 

 I'emoved, and should he labeled and stored where they will be readily 



