44 cor.l, KITING AND I'K'KSKKVIXG COCCTD^. 



situations; and roots of any kind penetrating into ants' 

 nests should be carefully overhauled. See also p. 1, ct 

 seq. 



The rearing of the male Coccid is by no means n 

 difficult task, providing the scales (puparia) are re- 

 moved with the food-plant after pupation has taken 

 place, and when the insect no longer requires nourish- 

 ment from the plant. This can generally be ascer- 

 tained in the field with the aid of a good pocket lens. 

 Should it be found necessary to remove the sen It > pre- 

 maturely the perfect insects may sometimes be reared 

 by placing the ends of the food-plant in a vessel of 

 water. In all cases, after final pupation, the twigs, 

 etc., bearing the scales should always he transferred to 

 glass-topped boxes, and if moisture accumulates on 

 the glass it should be removed, otherwise the wings of 

 the insects will become entangled in it and destroyed. 

 As a preventative never expose the boxes to the sun. 

 Larva 1 and parasites may be obtained in the same way 

 as the males, but with much less ditliculty. 'The 

 females may be kept alive for several weeks by placing 

 the ends of the food-plant in water. But by far the 

 better plan to observe these insects through their 

 various stages is to establish colonies of them on trees 

 and plants at home. For any one who possesses a garden 

 the plan is very simple. All that is required is a small 

 Collection of voung forest trees, about four feet high, 

 planted a few feet apart in a sheltered situation. To 

 establish a colony of the insects, procure a number of 

 scales 01- gravid females containing <\ggs, and tie the 

 branches containing them to the growing plant s. On 

 hatching the larvae at once fix themselves upon the 

 growing plant, and there is no further trouble, except 

 that in winter the birds may cany them off, but a 

 piece of fish-netting thrown over the trees entirely 

 prevents disappointments of this kind. 



The preparation and preservation of the Coccidas 

 may be considered under two heads, viz. a dried 

 collection suitable for exhibition in a museum, and a 



