22 B. C. ENTOJIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



and in this is inserted the food plant, which keeps fresh longer in this 

 way. With larvae that feed on trees or shrubs, sleeving is a very easy 

 way of keeping them. A number of different sized sleeves should be 

 prepared. I have found bags about two feet long by 9 inches wide a 

 useful size. These should be slipped over suitable branches and tied 

 round the open end by a piece of string, care being taken to avoid folds 

 through which larvae enemies could creep. In some cases sleeves 

 open at both ends are more convenient to slip over branches, the outside 

 end being afterwards tied up with a piece of string. The material of which 

 the bags are made should be strong enough to resist the attacks of birds, 

 but transparent enough to see when the food contained inside is getting 

 finished. If necessary to transfer the larvae to fresh pasturage, it is 

 advisable to cut off the old branch and pick off the larvae over a sheet 

 or large newspaper, transferring them to the new sleeve after it is in 

 position on the fresh branch. It is necessary to keep an eye on the 

 sleeves and when the larvae are getting full fed, especially in cases 

 when they pupate in soil or on the ground, to let them finish in flower 

 pots such as I have mentioned. I prefer flower pots for this, because 

 it is desirable to keep only one kind in each pot. 



Another variant of the sleeve is to cut off a branch of the food plant 

 required, tie it in the sleeve in the same manner as just described, only 

 leaving about 6 inches of the stem projecting outside and then put the 

 stem in a jar of water, with the sleeve resting on the mouth of the jar. 

 This can be kept in the house or outhouse, and will be found a most 

 convenient and successful method. 



Shallow boxes of wood, with moss or cocoanut fibre on the bottom, 

 make excellent cages. The tops must be perfectly level so that a sheet 

 of glass, placed on the top, will not leave any spaces for the larvae to 

 escape. A piece of muslin or butter cloth should be put under the glass 

 over the top of the box. In cases of odd larvae of unknown species 

 picked up, I have found it a convenient practice to use Economy jars or 

 sealers. I first put a little debris, fibre moss or cotton wool, in the 

 bottom of the jar. 



Then I take a small bottle about 3 inches high, and tie a piece of 

 string around its neck ; after filling the little bottle with water, I put in 

 a sprig of the food plant and lower the whole into the jar by the string. 

 The string will be found necessary, for if not used the inside bottle will 

 slip away from the food. 



The string is also needed to lift out the bottle when renewing the 

 food plant. The mouth of the jar must be covered by a piece of cheese 

 cloth, secured by a string or elastic band. The advantage of this method 

 is that a description of the caterpillar can be attached to the jar and the 

 connection of larva and perfect insect be safely established. Moreover 

 the larvae may be allowed to pupate in the jar — the jar can be stored in 



