38 CATERPILLARS AND THEIR MOTHS 



If mating moths are found they can be taken in the 

 fingers, gently, and put into a cage with their feet on 

 the netting, usually without disturbing them. In any 

 case the female should be held, since she is the source 

 of the egg-supply. 



Sphingid moths do not remain mated as long as 

 bombycid moths, and are not as likely to be found 

 together in the morning. Finding a female alone does 

 not necessarily mean that she has not mated. Most 

 captured females will be fertile, but if one is found 

 which is evidently fresh from the pupa it will need 

 mating. 



Mating-cages can be made of paper or wooden 

 boxes having four uprights extending five or six inches 

 above the top of the box. The netting cover which 

 forms the cage may be of wire or of lace, cut to fit, 

 and fastened to the box by tacks or a rubber band. 

 With wire netting it is easier to have half the top 

 made to open to admit moths. Most moths dart 

 downward when disturbed. With the lace or mos- 

 quito-netting cage the edge can be pushed up enough 

 to admit the moth. A small salt-box makes a good 

 cage for medium-sized moths. So does a pound 

 candy-box, while a starch-box makes a palatial cage 

 for the largest cecropla. Tin boxes give a moth no 

 foothold and are not good 



When a moth begins to oviposit she should be put 

 in a paper box with lace over the top (old veils are 

 excellent for moth-boxes). This is for the purpose of 

 detaching the eggs easily. The lining of a paper box 

 can be cut off with a sharp knife, while it is difficult to 

 remove eggs from a wooden or tin box without break- 

 ing them. 



