PROBLEM S 33 



rroblem S : A field trip. 



Materials. — For collecting purposes an insect net. ci^ar l.oxcs 

 containing sheets of cork, insect pins, and ;i cyanide bottle are 

 useful. (Caution. Do not smell the cyanide ; even the fumes are 

 deadly poison.) See Comstock's Insect Life for good (hrections 

 how to make nets, cyanide bottle, and coUecting l)oxes. 



Note. — Read these directions carefully before beKinninR work. 

 Object of trip : The object of this trip is threefold : 



1. To find out some of the relations of mutual heli) existing l>etwcen plants and 

 animals. 



2. To learn. to know a few common insects, and to collect them for later study. 



3. To have such an enjoyable time that you will wish to go again by yourself. 



a. Insects and Flowers 



Method and Observations. — Your trip should include fields and 

 waste lots, covered with weeds and trees. Look for six-legged 

 animals (insects) on plants. Do they receive any jirotection 

 from such plants? Shelter? Food? CJive exami)les under 

 each of th'e above headings. Do you find any insects laying their 

 eggs upon plants? Why do you think they do this? 



Follow a bee until it alights on a flower. Try to hnd out exactly 

 what it gets from the flower, and how it does it. Now observe 

 where it goes next. Do bees visit flowers of the same kind in 

 succession ? 



What are your conclusions regarding the nuitual relations Ik?- 

 tween the bee and the flower? Do both receive benefit? Write 

 your answer on paper supplied by your instructor. 



Look for other flying insects that are on flowers. Extra credit 

 is given for the working out of the relation between a buttertl\- 

 and a flower. 



Carefully observe the goldenrod blossoms tor \ellow and black 

 beetles (locust borer) about 1 inch long. Does the be(>tle get any 

 good from the plant? Might it give the plant aiiythiiig in return? 

 Write a paragraph on this. 



Observe grasshoppers or other insects on stalks of gra.<s. ^^ li.it 

 are they doing there? Do they give any return to the i)lant ? 

 Write a paragraph on this relation. 



HUNTER LAB. PROB. — 3 



