MOTH HUNTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 310, 31 December 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

MOTH HUNTING.

AN INTERESTING rIOBBY.

A keen young butterfly collector lias asked for hints regarding collecting and instructions for pinning specimens. As far as the killing of the butterflies captured is concerned various expedients may be adopted. Some kill the insects while still in the net by nipping the fore-body between finger and thumb; and ir neatly performed this is effectual by compression of the chief nerve centres. Others put their captures into a cyanide killing bottle or bring them home alive, each in its separate "box, and then kill them with a drop of chloroform or by subjecting the insects to the strong t'umee of liquid ammonia. For pinning the specimens, specially made entomological pins of various sizes are used. At first it is advisable to buy a packet of mixed sizes. A pin of the size proportioned to the stoutness of the insect's "body is passed through the fore-body (the thorax), and the protruding point inserted in the central "groove, of a corked setting board. The wings are then carefully arranged in the conventional manner, which is rather more fully expanded than the living creature expands them, and secured in position by strips of thin cardboard pinned to the corked surface., but not through the wing. The antennae and forelegs are secured in the same way. The specimens should be allowed to remain undisturbed until the hind body has become stiff; this takee from ten days to a fortnight. A little tab with the locality where taken and the date should be transfixed by the pin under the insect. The specimens may then be arranged. Another method of collecting butterflies is to rear them from caterpillars. By this method brighter and more perfect specimens may be obtained. Caterpillars for rearing may be obtained by noting plante whose leaves have been partially eaten, and then looking for the spoiler, who may be hiding on the undersjde of the leaf or the lower stem. AVhen captured it should be placed on a sprig of the proper food in a breeding cage, which may be a box with, a glass front and with perforated zinc or ■wire gauze at the back or top. Here the caterpillar may be studied •until it becomes a chrysalis and finally reaches the winged stage. As the food is eaten up or faded it must be renewed. It can be kept fresh by having a, small bottle of water with a hole bored through the cork, just large enough to take the stem of the plant. If the bottle is not corked in this manner the caterpillar almost invariably gets into the water and drowns. In the specimen cabinet there should 'be drawers, undivided, the bottom lined with cork to receive the points of the fine pins. The top should be of glass tightly fitted. There should also be cells to contain camphor or powdered naphthalene, as without these the specimens will be reduced to dust by mites, book lice, etc. The cabinet should also stand clear away from the wall—especially an outside'wall—to ensure safety from damp. An alternative to a cabinet is store boxes, whicji can be purchased from any dealer at very little cost. Illustrated on this page are the principal requisites for butterfly collecting. It may be seen that thn electric lamp is fitted 'with an attachment for fastening to the belt, thus leaving the hands free; fhc pjjip boxes may be used in place of a glass-bottomed box.