34 CATERPILLARS AND THEIR MOTHS 



covering is very tender and easily broken, and a break, 

 even if it does not kill the pupa, results in a deformed 

 moth. 



Pupse may be kept through the winter in tin boxes 

 filled with cut sphagnum or swamp-moss, slightly 

 moistened. The boxes should be kept away from sun 

 and heat, yet not in freezing temperature. They 

 should be shut and perhaps tied to keep mice and 

 meddlers from their contents. We like sphagnum 

 better than sawdust or earth, but all are used by en- 

 tomologists, and all should be baked to kill any living 

 creatures which might harm the pup». Earth should 

 be sifted through a fine sieve. Pupae may be kept 

 very successfully also on an inch or two of earth which 

 has been baked, then moistened a little, with sphag- 

 num laid loosely over the pupae, and room enough al- 

 lowed at the top for moths to spread their wings if they 

 emerge sooner than expected. 



We have wooden boxes with glass set in the lid, wire- 

 netting bottoms, and a thin lace over the top under 

 the glass. We like these boxes when the time for 

 emergence is near, for the moths can crawl up the 

 wooden sides to the lace over the top and under the 

 lid, and can be seen when they emerge. But such 

 boxes are not mouse-proof. Mice, spiders, beetles, ants, 

 birds, squirrels, snakes, toads, parasitic flies, and wasps 

 are to be regarded as enemies to caterpillars, most of 

 them to pupae, and some of them to moths, which are 

 often eaten by bats also. Skunks will eat pupae. 

 Cocoons may be kept in similar boxes without earth, 

 moss, or sawdust. 



When a moth emerges it is sometimes desirable to 



