384 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



Platynus limhatus was also found feeding on pupae in the 

 field, but it would not feed upon them in confinement. 



For the purpose of keeping and feeding some of our pre- 

 daceous beetles, under as natural conditions as possible, 

 Mr. Kirkland very ingeniously arranged a number of cages 

 (Plate 60), and attached them to the trunks of trees in the 

 woodland near the insectary. These cages were of wire 

 netting, bent into a nearly cylindrical form. The edges 

 were fastened to the two sides of the tree trunk, the lower 

 end extending down into the ground and the upper end 

 covered by a piece of cloth, one side of which was secured 

 to the tree, the other covering the top of the wire screen 

 cage, and held in place by a rubber strap, the ends of which 

 were fastened to the trunk of the tree. This rubber band 

 could easily be removed from the top of the cage and the 

 cloth lifted sufficiently to give free access to the interior. 

 A few small stones and some moss were so arranged on the 

 ground, at the bottom of the cage, as to furnish hiding- 

 places for the beetles. Each cage had a tag attached to it, 

 on which was the number and other necessary data. 



Two specimens of Calosoma scrutator were placed in cage 

 No. 1, August 9, and supplied with gypsy moth caterpillars. 

 August 20, fourteen caterpillars had been killed. 



Five specimens of Calosoma fingidum and one of Calo- 

 soma calidum were put into cage No. 2, August 9, and 

 supplied with caterpillars. One specimen of C. frigidiim 

 died August 13, snid August 20, twenty-five caterpillars had 

 been killed by these beetles. 



Ten specimens of Harpalus caliginosus were put into cage 

 No. 3, August 9, and supplied with caterpillars, and August 

 20, twenty-two of these caterpillars had been destroyed by 

 the beetles. 



Ten specimens of Harpalus jpennsylvanicus were placed 

 in cage No. 4, August 9, and furnished with caterpillars; 

 August 20, twenty-three caterpillars had been killed by the 

 beetles. 



During the summer of 1891, Mr. E. P. Felt obtained a 

 specimen of Dermestes lardarius from a mass of gypsy moth 

 pupse. 



