REARING INSECTS IN THE SCHOOI^-ROOM. 



47 



Soap-box breediug cage. 



be occasionally wet so that the cocoons may be kept in a not too 

 dry atmosphere. Papa; which are found underground must be 

 kept buried in soil or moss. This soil should not be allowed to 

 become too dij-, nor yet should it be kept too moist. 



Insects which feed on 

 dried or decaying organic mat- 

 ter may be put, together with a 

 supply of their food, into a 

 glass fruit jar, over the top of 

 which mosquito netting is tied. 

 From some of the cocoons 

 or chrysalides will issue, not 

 moths or butterflies, but 

 smaller wasp-like or fly-like 

 insects. These are, if four- 

 winged, ichneumon-flies, or 

 if two- winged, true flies, which 

 are parasites of the moth or butterfl\- species wlio.se pupa 

 you have. The adult ichneumon fly or other parasitic fly 

 lays it eggs on the skin of the caterpillar; the young paras tes 

 soon hatch and burrow into the body of the unfortunate cater- 

 pillar and live in the body feeding on the body tissues. The 

 caterpillar usually has strength left to transform into the pupa, 

 but the continued attacks of the internal parasites kill the pupa, 

 and from it issue finally the full-grown ichneumon flies. 



Directions for the special care and treatment necessary for 

 rearing those insects whose life-history is described in this series 

 of nature study lessons are given in the case of each insect 

 studied. Thus, with these few general directions for rear- 

 ing insects, our consideration of the school-room insectary might 

 be closed, if it were not that we have omitted all reference to the 

 caring for those insects which live in water. For the rearing and 

 observation of these water insects aquaria are necessary. The 



