112 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



As a foundation for the study of any insect pest from an economic 

 standpoint, there must be a rather accurate study and knowledge of 

 at least the main points in its life history. The same apparatus and 

 methods are not likely to prove equally well adapted to the study of 

 widely different species, and there must be therefore more or less of 

 an adaptation in these respects to the specific study of each insect. 



From the beginning of the boll-weevil investigation much attention 

 has been given to obtaining " individual records." To obtain these, 

 isolation of specimens was essential, and as the nature of the food 

 supply was very perishable, requiring its frequent renewal, some form 

 of breeding jar was required which would facilitate the work of 

 daily examinations. After trying several forms of cage, we settled 

 finally upon the following type as best suited to our needs (see 

 PI. II, fig. 2) : The base was formed of a 4 or 5 inch flower-pot saucer, 

 filled level full with earth. On this was placed an ordinary lantern 

 globe, covered above with a single thickness of cheese cloth held in 

 place by a rubber band around the top. In general practice it was 

 found advantageous to place a cotton leaf large enough to cover the 

 saucer upon the dirt before placing the food supply and covering with 

 the globe. The principal advantage of this cage lay in the facility 

 with which the specimens might be moved from place to place and the 

 ease with which the top might be removed, giving free access to the 

 squares or bolls within the bracts of which the weevils were, as a rule, 

 hiding. The cloth cover rarely required removal, and if weevils 

 had crawled to the top of the globe they were there safely inclosed 

 while the necessary examination of the food supply was being made. 

 These globe cages were found to be equally well adapted for work 

 with from one to ten weevils. A larger number than this would 

 require a larger cage. 



An adaptation of the tj^pe of box used in capturing parasites of 

 scale insects and described in the First Biennial Report of the Com- 

 missioner of Horticulture of the State of California has been found 

 very useful in the breeding of parasites and also of the weevils them- 

 selves. The box (PL II, fig. 1) may be of any size desired, but must 

 be tightly joined throughout. We have found a box about 6 or 8 

 inches deep and wide by 10 or 12 inches long a convenient size for 

 our work. In one side are two rows of holes cut to fit almost any size 

 of glass tube at hand. The number of holes depends partly upon the 

 number of insects to escape, but unused openings may be easily closed 

 with cork stoppers. Small crevices around the tubes are closed with 

 a few thicknesses of cheese cloth or cotton wound around the tube. 

 The cover should fit tightly but be easily removable. The escaping 

 insects naturally make their way to the light, and may be removed by 

 exchanging tubes without danger of losing valuable specimens or 

 the necessity of handling those that might be easily crushed. An 



