COLLECTING OVA, LARVJE, AND PUP& 99 



rare pupa has been dug out of its hiding place during a season 



when the entomologist had but little other work to occupy his time. 



These and other similar subjects we shall now consider in turn. 



Collecting Ova 



The collection of ova may be carried on more or less through- 

 out the year. A number of moths are out in February, and even 

 in January if the weather is mild. These soon lay their eggs, 

 which are hatched about the time that the buds of the food plant 

 are breaking. From this time till late in the summer the ova of 

 various species are being deposited, the average period from laying 

 to hatching being from two to three weeks. Then, during the 

 autumn, when the leaves of food plants are turning brown and 

 crisp, ova are still being laid, but these remain unchanged till the 

 new buds of the following spring are bursting. 



Of course if you intend searching for the ova of particular species 

 you must previously ascertain the favourite haunts of those species, 

 become acquainted with their food plants, and also with the season 

 or seasons during which the eggs are laid. But the few following 

 hints will suffice as general instructions for the search. 



In nearly all cases we must expect to find ova on the food plants 

 of the respective species, but at times, especially with certain 

 moths, we may come across them in the most unlikely spots. 

 Thus, it sometimes happens that a moth settles on a street lamp, 

 and lays her eggs on the framework round the glass, or even on 

 the glass itself. The same thing may take place on the sash or 

 glass of a brightly lighted window. 



Such occurrences, however, we must regard as accidental and 

 comparatively rare, and therefore we confine our searchings for ova 

 to the food plants of the species we require. 



As a rule the under sides of the leaves will yield the most, but 

 we have already noticed (page 18) that some moths leave their eggs 

 exposed on the upper surface. Again, some larvae feed on flowers 

 and seeds and fruit, and the eggs of such are deposited on these 

 parts. Those insects which feed on the leaves of shrubs and trees 

 often lay their eggs on trunks, branches and twigs. Sometimes 

 these are laid singly, sometimes in dense clusters ; and it is not 

 unusual to find them arranged in rings or spirals with great regu. 

 larity. When examining the trunks of trees for ova it is necessary 

 to look well into the crevices of the bark, for some insects take 



