EQUIPMENT FOE REARING BEETLES. 



15 



Saugus, Mass. The average size was 8 feet 6 inches by 11 feet 4 

 inches, with 8-foot posts. The roof was covered with canvas, and a 

 strip of this material was attached to the sills and extended into the 

 ground to prevent the escape of the insects. It was found that these 

 cages were too large for the purpose of securing detailed data con- 

 cerning reproduction and the exact amount of food consumed, and 

 the following year they were used only in a limited way. 



EQUIPMENT USED FOR REARING PREDACEOUS BEETLES. 



Following out the methods used by the writer in 1896-97, when 

 investigating the life history of some of our native species of this 

 genus, an attempt was made to keep this species under observation 



Fig. 6.— Jars for rearing Calosoma beetles* a, Large jar with wooden top and "ladder"; b, small 

 jar with wooden top; c, showing construction of top and "ladder"; d, jar with cheesecloth top 

 held in position with rubber band. (Original.) 



in glass jars partly filled with earth. The best results were secured 

 by using glass battery jars, which can be obtained from most dealers 

 in glass supplies. The size of the jars selected should be governed 

 by the size of the species to be studied. The best results with syco- 

 phanta were secured by using jars 8£ inches tall and 6J inches in 

 diameter, or 7J inches tall and 5J inches in diameter, all outside 

 measurements. After the first season a wooden cover was used 

 instead of the usual cheesecloth top. (See tig. 6.) One-inch boards, 

 an inch larger in diameter than the top of the jars, were used for the 

 purpose. These had a 2-inch hole bored in the center which was 

 covered with wire netting. A groove cut near the outer edge of the 

 cover allowed it to fit loosely on the jar. In rearing beetles it has 

 been found of advantage to extend the wire which covers the hole in 



