Directions for collecting and preserving insects . gnacious character of tlie hill-constructing ants itwould seem to be a rather unpleasant task to examine a strong and vigorous colonyfor inquilinous beetles, but the collector must not mind being bitten and stung bythe infuriated ants, and after a little experience he will find that it is not such adifficult thing after all to attack even the largest ant-hill. The only thorough wayof investigating such ant-hills is to sieve the same, which can be easily done if thehill is composed of sticks and other vegetable debris. If it is built of earth o
Directions for collecting and preserving insects . gnacious character of tlie hill-constructing ants itwould seem to be a rather unpleasant task to examine a strong and vigorous colonyfor inquilinous beetles, but the collector must not mind being bitten and stung bythe infuriated ants, and after a little experience he will find that it is not such adifficult thing after all to attack even the largest ant-hill. The only thorough wayof investigating such ant-hills is to sieve the same, which can be easily done if thehill is composed of sticks and other vegetable debris. If it is built of earth or sandthe process of sifting is more difficult and tedious. Another method of securingspecimens of these inquiliuous beetles is to place Hat stones or similar objects on thesurface of the ant-hill and to examine them occasionally, when The beetles will hefound on the underside of the traps. Spring Flir/lits of Coleoptera.—On the first really warm days of spring commencesthe swarming season of Coleoptera, when all winged species are Hying about,. FIG. 64.—A Lamellicorn (Pelidnota punctata). a, larva;1>, i>ui>a; c, beetle; d, e, f, enlarged parts. [45] COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS RILEY. especially toward evening. On favorable days the number of specimens audspecies that can thus be found is astonishingly great, and this is one of the fewoccasions when the Coleopterist can advantageously use a light butterfly net. Theflvino- beetles preferably alight and rest on the top of wooden fences (especiallynewly made ones), on the railings of bridges, etc., where they can be easily seen andsecured, or they are attracted in great numbers by the white-painted surface ofbuildings. This lying season lasts in the latitude of Washington from the end ofApril to the middle of June, but favorable days are not of frequent occurrence, sincea peculiar combination of atmospheric conditions appears to be necessary to inducethe Coleoptera to fly about in great numbers. Beach collecting
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