94 NOTES ON THE AGRICULTURE, BOTANY 



XXIX. — The Insect Trade in South China and 

 Some Methods of Catching Insects. 



In the South part of China, generally, as well as in 

 subtropical and tropical regions the local insects attract 

 attention for their diversity and quantities. They are used 

 in native medicines, and as food. Lately they have been 

 collected for commercial purposes. In most Chinese medi- 

 cine shops in Foochow there are seen whole boxes full of 

 different insects, 9 but principally the natives have been 

 collecting for sale to the foreigners. Before the last war 

 they were being exported specially to Germany; but owing 

 to the interruption of the export trade to Europe, this trade 

 here was reduced to a minimum, though some collections 

 are now sent to Shanghai to the Museum of the Asiatic 

 Society. The export of insects from Foochow to Germany 

 was so large that big reserves had to be made by local Chinese 

 for instance, still at the present time one can see pots of 

 15-20 pounds in weight full- of bamboo beetles (calandra 

 longipes) and besides this hundreds of valuable kinds, bright- 

 coloured Chinese carnivorous beetles. The local climatic 

 conditions do not permit of ordinary preservation so the 

 Chinese preserve them in rolled capsules of thin cigarette 

 paper. For instance, for a beetle of one inch long it takes 

 a square piece of paper of 3 x 3 inches, the insect is rolled 

 to or three times in it and the ends are twisted. 



This method saves each insect from moulds and from 

 the breakage of tender parts. The redressed insects are not 

 long preserved on pins, since after a certain time they are not 

 only covered with byssus (Penicillium crustaceum), but also 

 with larger Mucoraceae, and after few years they begin to 

 fall in pieces. To keep the butterflies here is difficult. 

 Owing to the local dampness the redressed butterflies drop 

 the wings, become spoiled and are quickly discoloured in the 

 day light. 



To collect winged and water insects the Chinese use 

 bags, but the way of catching the cicada, dragonflies and 

 other fly insects is most original and interesting. For 

 catching the tender dragon-flies they employ long bamboos 

 on the ends of which is tied a thin bamboo hoop of 30-50 cm. 

 in length and 20-30 cm. in breadth. On this hoop is wound 

 the spider web gathered on the walls, hedges and mostly 

 everywhere. The web is collected until the interstices of 

 the hoop are covered with a 'thin net of the web. To 



9 The insects used in Chinese medicines are now studied by 

 C. R. Kellogg at Foochow. 



