REARING LARVAE 



33 



one uses a glass tube, it should be held over a flame until the speci- 

 men is dried to it at the point of contact. Should there be any 

 openings between the straw or tube and skin of the caterpillar, 

 a drop of glue will seal them. The actual inflating is done by hold- 

 ing the specimen in a warm place for a few moments, keeping it 

 inflated to natural size until 

 dry. This may be accom- 

 plished by the use of a simple 

 apparatus and one's breath, 

 as shown in figure 53. The 

 lamp chimney rests upon an 

 iron saucer filled with sand. 

 One may prefer to purchase 

 an inflating outfit, one of 

 which is illustrated in figure 

 54, in which case the air is 

 forced into the caterpillar 

 from two bulbs. Care must 

 be taken not to scorch the specimen. When thoroughly dry it may 

 be pushed off the tube with a sharp knife. 



A mount for the caterpillar has been previously prepared. This 

 will be understood by a glance at the accompanying illustration 

 (Fig. 55), which shows a piece of cork at the proper height on an 

 insect pin, and some fine wire (preferably the covered wire used 



FIG. 51. Stand for bottles. 



FIQ. 52. A Comstock bottle for alcoholic specimens. 



by milliners) wrapped about it as shown. The two ends are left 

 twisted together, and upon these the caterpillar is thrust, a drop 

 of liquid glue having first been placed on the wires' ends. The 

 specimen is then ready for the label. 



Rearing Larvae. A collector may be uncertain about the iden- 

 tity of a captured larva, or he may wish to procure the imago for 

 his collection, or he may desire to study its life history, observe its 

 3 



