=Woods, Hedges, and Lanes.= By far the greatest portion of insects are
found in these situations. In woods, the entomologist must beat the
branches of the trees into his folding net, and must select for this
purpose the open paths, skirts, etc. The trunks of trees, gates, and
timber which is cut down, should be carefully examined, and a great many
lepidopterous and coleopterous insects are found in these situations,
and in no other. In hedges and lanes, many of the most valuable and
beautiful insects are found, as also in nettles and other plants which
grow under them; these should be well beat, but more especially when the
white thorn blossoms in the months of May and June. Hedges where the
roads are dusty are very seldom productive.
=Heaths and Commons.= Many insects are peculiar to these situations from
the plants which grow on them, as well as from the dung of cattle, by
which many of them are frequented, in the latter of which many thousands
of insects may be found in a single day, in the months of April and May.
These are principally of the Order Coleoptera.
=Sand Pits.= These are favorable for the propagation of _Capris
lunarius_, _Noloxus monoceros_, _Lixus sulcirostris_ and other rare
insects. Minute species are found abundantly at the roots of grass.
=Meadows, Marshes and Ponds.= In meadows, when the ranunculi or
buttercups are in blossom, many _Muscæ_ and dipterous insects generally
abound. The flag-rushes are the habitations of _Cassida_, _Donacina_ and
others. Drills in marshes should be examined, as many species of insects
are found on long grass. The larvæ of various lepidoptera and neuroptera
are confined to these situations, more especially if hedges and trees
are near the spot. Ponds are rich in microscopic insects. These are
obtained by means of the landing net, which, for this purpose, need not
be so long as represented in Fig. 26, and should be made of pretty thick
cotton cloth, but sufficiently thin to allow the water to escape. The
mud, which is brought up from the bottom of ponds and ditches, should be
examined, and what small insects are found may be put in a small phial
filled with water, which will not only clean them but keep them alive;
and in many instances the naturalist will be surprised, upon the
examination of these, the most wonderful productions of nature.
=Moss, Decayed Trees, Roots of Grass, Etc.= Many insects will be found
in moss and under it; the roots and wood of decayed trees afford
nourishment and a habitation to a number of insects; many of the larvæ
of _Lepidoptera_ penetrate the trunks of trees in all directions; most
of the cerambyces feed on wood, as well as some species of _Carabidæ
Elateridæ_, etc. In seeking for these it is necessary to use the digger.
It is sometimes requisite to dig six or seven inches into the wood
before they are found.
=Banks of Ponds and Roots of Grass.= These are a never-failing source of
collecting, which may be followed at all seasons of the year, and in
general with great success; those banks are to be preferred which have
the morning or noon-day sun.
=Banks of Rivers, Sandy Sea Shore, Etc.= These situations afford a great
variety of _Coleoptera_, _Crustacæ_, etc. The dead carcases of animals
thrown on the shore should be examined, as they are the receptacles and
food of _Silphiodæ_, _Staphilinidæ_, etc. May and June are the best
seasons for collecting these insects.
=Dead Animals and Dried Bones= should be constantly examined, for these
are the natural habitats of several insects. It is not uncommon for
country people to hang dead moles on bushes; under these the
entomologist should place his net, and shake the boughs on which they
are hung, as many of the coleoptera generally inhabit these.
=Fungi and Flowers.= These are the constant abode of insects, and many
curious species will be found on them. It is a mistaken idea that
insects are only to be found in summer, as they are to be met with,
either in a living or pupa state, at all seasons. Dried moss, beneath
the bark of trees and under stones are extremely likely places to find
insects in winter; and even then the entomologist is more likely to
procure some of the rare species than in summer, as these are ranging in
search of food and in situations hidden from view.
At this season, if the weather is mild, the pupæ of _Lepidoptera_ will
be found at the roots of trees, more especially those of the elm, oak,
lime, etc., or beneath the underwood, close to the trees, and these
frequently at the depth of some inches under the ground.
In the months of June, July and August the woods are the best places to
search for insects. Most of the butterflies are taken in those months,
flying about in the daytime only. Moths are either found at break of day
or at twilight in the evening. The following method of taking moths is
pointed out by Haworth, in speaking of the Oak Moth (_Bombyx Quercus_).
“It is a frequent practice with the London Aurelians,” says he, “when
they breed a female of this and some other day-flying species, to take
her, whilst yet a virgin, into the vicinity of woods, where, if the
weather is favorable, she never fails to attract a numerous train of
males, whose only business seems to be an incessant, rapid and
undulating flight in search of their unimpregnated females, one of which
is no sooner perceived than they become so much enamored of their fair
and chaste relation as absolutely to lose all kinds of fear for their
own personal safety, which, at other times, is effectually secured by
the reiterated evolutions of their strong and rapid wings. So fearless,
indeed, have I beheld them on these occasions as to climb up and down
the sides of a cage which contained the dear object of their eager
pursuit in exactly the same hurrying manner as honeybees, which have
lost themselves, climb up and down the glasses of a window.”
[Illustration]