December, ’23] 
summers: refrigerator for insect shipments 
543 
parasitized gipsy moth larvae when the first Apanteles larvae were 
beginning to issue, and shipped from Yokohama on May 19, in the cold 
storage room of one of the fast Trans-Pacific vessels. The boxes arrived 
at Seattle May 29 and were placed immediately in two of our refrigerators 
which were on the dock all iced ready to receive them. As the refriger¬ 
ators were cold there was no opportunity for the parasites to suffer 
from a rise in temperature. The two refrigerators were immediately 
started for Melrose Highlands and were re-iced once en route. The 
shipment arrived at our Laboratory June 5, having taken eighteen days 
from Japan. On arrival the shipment was unpacked immediately. 
All of the ice had melted but the water was very cold. About five 
per cent of the host larvae were alive and active. The parasite larvae 
had issued from their hosts and spun their cocoons but none of the 
adults had emerged. Apanteles adults began to emerge shortly after 
arrival and continued for several days, every cocoon producing a vigorous 
adult. 
The refrigerators were also tested for the shipment of live larvae. A 
collection of web worm larvae, Hyphantria sp., was made at Seattle, 
packed in one set of boxes and shipped August 11, to Melrose High¬ 
lands in one of the refrigerators, taking seven days to reach there, 
being re-iced once en route. The shipment was in good condition on 
arrival with about half of the larvae alive and vigorous. Results were 
very good considering the fact that it was not possible, owing to limited 
facilities, to exercise quite the care in packing necessary to get the best 
results. 
Much of the success of such shipments depends upon the care used in 
packing. When parasitized larvae are sent too many must not be placed 
in each box; with the gipsy moth we pack from fifty to a hundred, de¬ 
pending upon their size, and plenty of small branches of foliage must be 
included. The foliage serves two purposes,—it provides food for the 
larvae, and prevents them from being thrown against the sides of the 
box and injured. If parasite cocoons or puparia are sent it is usually 
best to pack these in layers separated by sheets of paper but some 
experimenting may be necessary to determine the best way. 
The small boxes should be lined with blotting paper to absorb the 
moisture precipitated when the temperature is lowered otherwise there 
will be an excess of moisture and the growth of mold. 
The illustrations were made by Messrs. C. E. Hood and I. T. Guild 
of the Gipsy Moth Parasite Laboratory, and the method of holding the 
can in place devised by Mr. H. I. Winchester. 
