BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENT. SOC. II. 1879. 63 



Hints on the Rearing of Lepidoptera. * 



BY GEO. I). HULST. 



Very few specimens captured in the open air are taken from 

 the net or bottle in a perfect condition. A very large number 

 have the wings broken or rubbed, and a very much larger num- 

 ber, even if otherwise perfect, have lost their virgin luster of color. 

 Consequently very many collectors have been induced to enrich 

 their cabinets with specimens reared from the Caterpillar; for 

 although this is in one sense much more tiresome, and possibly less 

 exciting, yet the rearing of larvae has a special interest to anyone 

 who loves nature ; and the one who delights only in the beauty 

 of the final form is amply rewarded with the possession of perfect 

 specimens. And if the collector be a student, he finds in reared 

 specimens his only trustworthy objects of study. 



Some collectors assert that artificially bred specimens never 

 attain the full size and luster of specimens bred by nature. But 

 they without any doubt are in error. It is true that the greater 

 number of bred specimens lack in size and luster. But that is 

 accounted for by the fact that nature never fails to furnish fresh 

 food and plenty of it to her wards, while it is very rarely that a 

 brood of insects is raised by man without being more than once 

 stinted in food or having it in a wilted condition. It is certain 

 that with proper care not only can nature be equalled, but in 

 very many cases surpassed. For nature presents many things 

 unfavorable to the full development of insect life. Art may give 

 only what is best ; this requires care a. id experience beyond what 

 the most have time or opportunity to give. 



1. It is preferable under all circumstances to rear all imagines 

 from the egg. The student will be satisfied with nothing less ; 

 for a partial knowledge of the life history never satisfies. And 

 as has already been suggested every part of the life history is no 

 less beautiful and interesting 1han its final consummation. 



The eggs of the Lepidoptera can in the majority of cases be 

 easily obtained, especially where the food-plant is known. The 

 females of the Diurnals become fertilized very soon after emerging 

 from the Chrysalis, and any female specimen taken in the net with 

 wings at all broken or rubbed by flight, one can almost surely 



* In preparing this article. I have made very free use of Mss on the subject written by 

 Mr. A Tbalenho.st, of Hamburg Germany. 



