A Penny Weekly Magazine of Natural History. 



20. MARCH 13th, 1880. Vol. 1. 



No. 



REARING LARWE. 



X S the season is now at hand when 

 larva? begin to be easily found, it 

 will be well to say a few words to 

 beginners on rearing insects from their 

 earlier stages. Not that we wish yet 

 to give very elaborate instructions, 

 which are perhaps more likely to dis- 

 courage than to help. Nor do we want 

 to begin so low down, as rearing trom 

 the egg, which is perhaps rather 

 lifficult to cemmence with. We want 

 merely to give a few hints on rearing 

 such species as are easily managed, so 

 ■at beginners may succeed on their 

 first attempt, and instead of being dis- 

 couraged by failure, will be disposed 

 from having succeeded so well, to try 

 Bain. 



One of the easiest larva? to rear is 

 that of the Drinker f Odo/iestis potatoria ). 

 They have passed the winter as young 



> larva?, and may now be found on every 

 hedge bank, among the coarse grass 

 growing about the roots of the bushes, 

 [t is now about an inch long, is dark 

 bluish grey, with a yellow line on each 

 side of the back, and white tufts with 

 fellow streaks alony the spiracles. It 



(iias a pointed tuft of hair, standing 



straight up on the last segment, and 

 another on the second. It feeds at 

 night, but may easily be seen during 

 the day, stretched at length along a 

 grass stem, or on a low twig. A few 

 of these may be reared in any sort of 

 a box — a chip hat box is as good as 

 anything. They need a supply of fresh 

 coarse grass every evening, and if you 

 slightly sprinkle it with water occasion- 

 ally you may see the caterpillar suck 

 up a drop, or "drink," from which 

 habit it has got both its names. 

 By May the larva is full fed, 

 and it will then be over two inches 

 long, and stout in proportion, still re- 

 taining the same colors. It will then 

 on the side of the box, or on a stout 

 stem of grass spin a shuttle- shaped 

 cocoon, rather tough, and well matted 

 together ; in which it changes to a 

 rather lively black pupa. In about a 

 month the perfect insect emerges. 

 The sexes differ considerably in size 

 and general appearance, while each 

 sex also differs much in color and size. 

 They sit with the wings very much 

 sloped, and altogether, though very 

 common, it is an interesting species for 

 a beginner to practice on, and being 

 very hardy, it will be his own fault if 



