16 



CALOSOMA SYCOPHANTA. 



the top so that one end of it will reach the earth in the jar. This 

 forms a "ladder" and enables the beetles to climb to the top of the 

 jar and secure the caterpillars which have sought shelter on the 

 underside of the cover. 



Jelly glasses partly filled with earth are useful in rearing small 

 larvae when it is desired to secure accurate records of the length of 

 time in the different stages, the amount of food consumed, and simi- 

 lar details. When the larvae are nearly full grown it is sometimes 

 necessary to place them in larger jars with more earth or in a tight 

 wire cage which has been partly buried in the earth, as it is necessary 

 for them to have plenty of earth in which to form their pupal cham- 



Fig. 7. — Small wire-screen cages, set in ground in insectary, for rearing Calosoma larvse. The arrow 

 points to an empty cage and cover. (Original. ) 



bers, and if they are to be reared successfully the ground should not 

 be disturbed. 



Cages for rearing Calosoma larvae have been in use the past three 

 seasons. The bottoms are made of a circular piece of board 4 inches 

 in diameter, having a hole in the center covered with netting. To 

 the circumference of this base is tacked a strip of wire mosquito net- 

 ting 10 inches wide. It must be cut long enough to lap at the side 

 so that it can be sewed with wire. The selvage of the wire netting 

 should be used for the top of the cage, and care should be taken that 

 the circumferences of the top and the bottom are the same. A cover 

 similar to those used on the glass jars is then placed on the top of the 

 cage. These cages (fig. 7) should be set about 8 inches in the ground, 



