asking for their aid. The responses were prompt and generous. All are ready 

 to assist beginners. 



And so, it is not a girl nor a beginner who is offering to teach enquirers, 

 but a host of learned and influential scientists. Those who have not promised 

 aid are earnestly requested to help. We want a complete course of instruction, 

 one which is far and away better than has ever been published, and we are 

 founding our trust upon the assistance of entomologists. 



HOW TO DISCOVER FOODPLANTS. 



Subscribers should possess the foodplant charts. They may be had for the 

 asking. You will be surprised to see the names of many species followed by an 

 interrogation point which indicates that their foodplant is unknown. In many 

 instances it is not exactly unknown, but if the larvae of the particular species have 

 been reared on the plant the fact has never been published. For instance, look 

 at the large family of Argynnis and Brenthis. Sixty species are named and the 

 foodplant of only twelve are mentioned. In every instance where it has been 

 tried the foodplant is violets. Doubtless the other forty-eight species feed upon 

 violets, but if the matter has been successfully tested it has not been given pub- 

 licity. Females of this family will lay their eggs in paper bags without requiring the 

 presence of the foodplants. How easy it would be for even a beginner to catch 

 an Argynnis or Brenthis female, put her in a bag, feed her upon apple soaked in 

 honied water, secure her eggs, and when the larvae hatch feed them upon violets, 

 report the fact and add an atom to science. 



The fact that so many species have never been reared is that it requires 

 a little work to feed the larvae. The vast army of scientists who devote their 

 attention to economic entomology breed only pests, or parasites to destroy larvae, 

 Harry S. Smith, of the California State Insectary, writes: 



"You ask how we discover the foodplants oi' the butterflies which are bred 

 at the Insectary. We really discover the foodplant first and the butterfly after- 

 wards. We work only with insects which are injurious to culivated crops, and 

 whenever an insect of the order lepidoptera is found destroying one of these 

 crops we bring it into the Insectary for study, but we have never collected the 

 moths and butterflies which are not of economic importance." 



It will devolve upon the nature lovers and amateurs, upon the butterfly 

 farmers, to discover and publish the foodplants of all butterflies. In many cases 

 it will be simple. All you have to do, even where the butterfly requires the 

 /oodplant before she oviposits, is to confine her in a cage, paper bag, or gauze 

 covered box containing the foodplant upon which other members of the family 

 feed. A little study will enable you to guess the plant she requires. Two or 

 more plants of different species may be placed in the cage, and she will choose 

 her favorite. You will enjoy rearing the potted plants, enjoy watching the 

 mother fly lay her eggs, and when you have reared the larvae to maturity you 

 will have the honor of adding a new foodplant to the list, and will have bred 

 a number of perfect specimens which you can sell. You will doubtless make 

 failures but you will score victories. 



Do not confine your efforts to one species. Try to get eggs from as many 

 species as possible. One success will compensate you for all your trouble. Until 

 you have had a little experience it will be well to experiment with varieties 

 whose 1'oodpants are known, instead of trying to get eggs from varieties which 

 have never been bred. Many correspondents write that they have tried in 

 vain to get the eggs of a particular butterfly, and upon inquiry it is ascertained 

 that they have not tried the proper foodplant. 



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