r ' 1mT *t 



-OF THE- 



§vooMp Entomological Jwttetg. 



BR OOKLYN, AUG. 1878. No. 4 . 



PRACTICAL HINTS CN COLLECTING CDLEDPTERA. 



BY H. SCHMELTER. 

 Continued. 



Some writers recommend for the capture of species living with 

 ants, to sift the material composing the nests of ants in winter 

 while the ants are in a torpid state and can not molest the collector 

 in this operation. But as 1 have not been able to find ant-hills a- 

 round New York, 1 can not speak with personal experience of its 

 merits. 



Placing of small stories in the vicinity of these nests in spring as 

 traps for the coleoptera parasites of ants, is also recommended. 



Occasional careful inspection of the underside of these stones is 

 said to give often very satisfactory results, less in the number, than 

 in the value of these minute species found. I have not practically 

 tested this method and L would therefore be greatly pleased, if col- 

 lectors who are in the position to employ both methods would com- 

 municate with me on their experience. 



With the increasing warmth of spring ponds and brooks offer 

 good collecting fields. A net is required made of some strong and 

 at the time porous cloth; the one which I use is made of ordinary 

 muslin, with a bottom of the finest brass wire cloth, the meshes of 

 Which do not exceed^ mm. 



The water will readily pass through this net, but even the most 

 minute insects will be retained. Mr. Isenschmidt recommends in 

 the "Entomologische Nachrichten of Put thus," a net constructed 

 entirely of woven wire. But besides the difficulty and expense of 

 obtaining such a net, transportation must be very inconvenient, and 

 1 believe therefore that the first named net will have the preference 

 with most collectors. Dining a. collecting. trip without a net the 



