THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 149.] 
MITES. 
With certain months we have certain 
associations. Thus, in December we 
think of Pcecilocampa Pnpuli ; in Feb- 
ruary of Eriogaster Lanes Iris ; iu April 
of Endromis versicolora ; in July of 
Apatura Iris; but in August we think 
of mites. In August our setting-boards 
are sure to have more on them than 
we have placed there, and frequently 
they try our patience by operating on 
the wings and antennae of our speci- 
mens. The basal joint of the antennae 
of a Micro seems to be a regular tit- 
bit. 
Now, if care be not taken, mites 
will be conveyed by us from the set- 
ting-board to the store-box ; but they 
have no business to live in the store- 
box, if that is kept supplied with cam- 
phor. Camphor will evaporate, espe- 
cially this hot weather, and though the 
proverb may not always be true, that 
“ If Poverty comes in at the door, 
Love flies out of the window,” it cer- 
tainly is true that “ if camphor all 
evaporates through one chink, mites 
will come in at another.” 
But is there no remedy ? Yes, but 
the remedy is so simple, — care and 
attention. If the drawers be kept 
[Pkice Id. 
supplied with camphor mites will uever 
colonise there, and if we place no mity 
specimens in our drawers mites need 
never be seen there. 
We lately saw a collection all order 
and neatness, and perfectly free from 
mites, though its owner had long since 
retired from the active pursuit of Ento- 
mology, and we were pleased at the 
sight. Since then we chanced to see 
a collection belonging to two active 
entomologists, but beneath nearly every 
fourth specimen was a little pile of 
dust, and mites were walking about 
the drawers, — mites of such portentous 
size that to our horror-struck eyes they 
looked like — crabs. 
We do not like to dwell upon the 
subject — it is too painful; it reminds 
us so excessively of Dr. Kitchener’s 
recipe for making pickled cucumber. 
Shall we parody that recipe for the 
instruction of the rising generation ? 
Collect insects carefully ; search for 
them at morning, noon and night ; 
toil for them in spring, summer, 
autumn and winter; care not for heat 
nor cold, for rain nor wind ; persevere, 
collect, collect; set them out carefully; 
put out their legs and antennae; and 
when you have toiled for years, and 
expended on them toil, time and 
talents — throw them to the mites! 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1859 
u 
