JANUARY. 15 



inhabited by larvae or earwigs (Forficula auricularia) : 

 if by the former we have no occasion to slit any more, 

 but simply cut in convenient lengths those in which 

 the holes appear. 



Having said thus much with respect to collecting 

 larvae (as far as this month is concerned), I will now 

 say a few words with regard to their treatment after- 

 wards, in order that we may stand the best chance of 

 rearing them to perfection ; and first as regards the 

 stem-feeding species. 



"Larvae inhabiting the stems of plants, such as 

 Pastinaca, Cirsium, Arctium, $c., require no atten- 

 tion beyond keeping them away from heat, in order 

 that the pith on which they feed may not dry up. 

 They are best kept in tin boxes about eight inches high 

 by three inches in diameter, and thus packed together 

 they suffer no injury except in the case of thistles, 

 which are apt to ferment. When this happens they 

 require to be taken out of the tins and exposed to the 

 air until moderately dry, when they may be returned 

 to the tins until within about a month of the time of 

 appearance of the insects ; they ought then to be placed 

 in a box with a hole cut in the lid and covered with 

 wire or gauze. 



" Larvae that feed in leaves, such as Nepticulce, re- 

 quire the leaves to be rolled in soft paper : when the 

 larvae are full fed they will quit the leaves and make 

 their cocoons either among them or upon the paper ; the 

 latter require to be cut out (attached to portions of 

 either leaf or paper) and kept in small tightly corked 

 bottles. 



