METHODS OF PACKING BEETLES FOK SHIPMENT. 



11 



and also because in many of the shipments sawdust was used instead 

 of moss, and proved unsuitable for the purpose. At the close of that 

 year instructions were sent that in the future wet moss should be 

 placed in the match boxes with the beetles, and since that time the 

 rate of mortality has been reduced. In 1908 only 14 per cent and 

 in 1909 9 per cent of the specimens of C. sycophanta were dead when 

 received. 



Nearly all the material above mentioned was shipped by Miss Ruhl. 

 In 1909, however, a small number of larvae of C. sycophanta was 

 received in boxes of parasitized gipsy moth caterpillars from M. Ober- 

 thiir and M. Dillon in collections made in France. Lots sent by the 

 former were shipped from Charroux and those by the latter from 

 Hyeres. 



In 1910 all the specimens were received from Miss Ruhl, and 27 



Fig. 4.— Same box as in figure 3, with cover removed to show method of packing Calosoma beetles. 

 Each match box contains a single beetle and a small quantity of wet sphagnum moss. 

 (Original.) 



per cent mortality resulted. Table II shows the entire numbers of 

 adult C. sycophanta, their condition on receipt, and the percentage of 

 mortality. 



Table II. — Number of specimens of Calosoma sycophanta shipped into Massachusetts, 

 1905 to 1910, number received alive, and percentage of mortality. 



Year. 



Number 

 of beetles 

 shipped. 



Live 



specimens 

 received. 



Per cent 

 of mor- 

 tality. 



1905 



216 

 821 



2,092 

 788 

 444 



1,782 



1 



693 

 967 

 675 

 405 

 1,305 



99.5 



1906 



15 



1907 



54 



1908 r 



14 



1909 



9 



1910 



27 







Total 



6, 143 



4,046 





Average 



34 











