THE LEPIDOPTERIST'S CALENDAR 43 



LARV.E] MAY 



carrying out these arrangements, not only should every means be afforded 

 the larva to make its cocoon, or to otherwise pass into the pupal state, but it 

 should be remembered thnt in a few weeks the perfect insect will emerge, 

 and provision must be made for its successful advent in the winged state. 



Besides the hibernated larvae, many will be found in various stages of 

 growth which have only emerged from the egg state in the earlier spring 

 months. Some of these may be rather small, especially if the season has 

 been backward ; but their careful feeding up will have its reward in their 

 being found to be seldom infected with parasites, to which older larvae are more 

 liable. In carrying out these breeding arrangements our object should 

 not only be to carry the operation successfully through, but to learn the 

 habits of the various species as they would behave in a state of nature. 



Many larvee vary in appearance according to their age. In some species, 

 when one of the regular changes of skin takes place, the appearance of the 

 insect is completely altered. Many young larvae are thus unknown, which, 

 when mature, are recognised as old friends. Many noctuse are more gaily 

 dressed in youth than in maturity. Among the other kinds which are sober 

 in colour in the earlier stage, but array themselves gorgeously in their last 

 moult, are L. -#gon, C. flavicornis, A. australis, T. rubricosa, E. nigra, 

 C. exoleta. 



The cannibal larvae should be carefully looked for when beating, and be 

 "left out in the cold" if not wanted, or boxed separately if they are, or 

 they will make short work of any larva that happens to come in their way. 



A useful article to the larva collector is a bag, made of canvas or linen, 

 about two feet deep by one foot wide. This would hold a large number of 

 larvae, with sprays of their food-plants, and when the mouth is tied the 

 whole may ensily be carried. If time presses on reaching home, the larvae 

 may be left hung up in their bag for a day or two, in a cool place, without 

 injury. If the whole of the larvae are turned out into a pan on reaching 

 home, and covered with muslin, the case bearers will crawl up and attach 

 themselves thereto. 



The reader may again be reminded that night searching for larvae, especially 

 on low plants, often yields many species. They are sometimes found crawling 

 up or down trees. Just before sunset is the best time for beating, or sweeping, 

 especially on warm evenings in the early summer. On favourable evenings 

 towards the end of May upon a heath, or moor, many species may be some- 

 times met with in abundance. Lettuce leaves have been recommended as a 

 bait to catch larvae, scattering the leaves over the ground some time before 

 searching. 



The long list of larvae which comes under this month will furnish the 

 collector with ample choice of material upon which to work. 



P. crataegi from August, haw- A. Aglaia from August, dog, 



thorn, sloe, and orchard trees and sweet violet, and wild 



A. Paphia from August, dog, heartsease; on hill-sides, and 



and sweet violet, in woods, &c. sea-side sandhills 



