LARV^-BOXES AND COLLECTING LAEV^. 



307 



Fig. 56.— 

 Cage for Col. 

 XECTiNG Larv^. 



and narrowing inside to half its diameter at the top, prevents 

 anything escaping, even if the cork should be left out, and also 

 prevents the swarming out of the enclosed 

 larvse, which would take place if the top were 

 lifted oi£ bodily. Wooden canisters, such as 

 tobacco is often stored in, make very good sub- 

 stitutes if small holes are bored in the side. 

 Tin canisters, or, indeed, anything made en- 

 tirely of metal, unless plenty of ventilation is 

 afforded, as in Fig. 56, have a tendency to cause 

 tbe enclosed larvse to sweat. 



Some few hints as to collecting larvge may not 

 be unacceptable. In the spring, just as the 

 buds of various low plants and bushes break 

 forth, they should be searched by night, by 

 the aid of a lantern, for the larvse of various 

 noduce and geometrce then feeding. The best 

 plants to search will be the mountain ash, 

 bilberry, honeysuckle, and bramble, given in 

 their order of merit. Many other plants may be advantageously 

 searched, in fact, all low plants and bushes ought to be well 

 looked over by the persevering collector. Later on, sweeping, 

 i.e., pushing a strong ring net through the grass, may be 

 resorted to. The net for this should be made of strong wire in. 

 the shape of the net at Fig. 46, or 43, if without the joints, a bag 

 of strong dowlas and a stick are attached, and the front square- 

 ended part is pushed by the collector through the grass, in 

 order to trap any low feeding or invisible insects. When the 

 leaves are fully out on the trees, beating will shake many 

 larvse, pupse, certain moths, beetles, &c., into the net or sheet 

 spread to receive them. Both sweeping and beating may be 

 practised by night as by day. 



The situations in which larvse are found are many, some 

 rolling themselves in nettle, oak, or other leaves ; others boring 

 into the substance of the wood itself, and some feeding in the 

 stems of various bushes, plants, reeds, &c. For life histories of 

 such consult the pages of the Entomologisfs Monthly Magazine, 

 or Entomologist, both published every month at 6d. each; or 

 Newman's " British Butterflies" and " British Moths," published 



