COLLECTING INSECTS AT NIGHT. By ELBERT S. TUCKER, Museum Assistant in Systematic Entomology, University YOLLECTING insects at night is by no means engaged in to the COLLE same extent as day collecting, yet night collecting is far from being neglected. Insects in their season abound by night as well as by day, but those which are active at night seldom appear by day, and those that are found in daytime are not generally caught at night, althought a lapping of the two tendencies is evidenced by some common forms which appear only at twilight or dawn. Consequently, two popular distinctions among insects are established by reason of their choice of either daytime or night-time for period of activity, and the terms diurnal and nocturnal are familiarly applied. Aside from the preference for day work rather than night work in any pursuit, and collecting is no exception in this respect, the inducements for collecting at night are, however, considering the abundance, importance and variety of nocturnal forms, about equal to those attending day collecting. Some collectors assert that discoveries of new species are more certain to reward night work than operations by day; hence the thorough collector needs to divide his time somewhat between day and night. In contemplating the present scope of entomology, the student becomes impressed by the remarkable number of species now described in our bulky literature, and is apt to believe that about every kind of insect which thrives in our country, or wherever exploration has been conducted, is scientifically known and named, and in many cases renamed, in consequence of which little chance remains for finding new material. This notion cannot endure long in the face of investigation of what forms of insects can be found especially at night. The author can state that as far as his own captures are reported, in regard to some hymenopterous parasites,* more than two species were captured to one old species, and most of them were collected at night in Lawrence. Whether this is an exceptional case or not, the study of other groups collected at same time under the same conditions is needed for the purpose of determining what percentage of new species to old species would constitute an average estimate, particularly in regard to Microdip *See article entitled "Notes and Descriptions of Hymenoptera from the Western United States in the Collection of the University of Kansas," by H. L. Viereck, in Transactions Kansas Academy of Science, volume XIX, pp. 264–326. tera and Microlepidoptera, the chief associates taken with the parasites. Much depends on the extent to which any group has been studied that leaves a chance more or less open for addition of new species; for instance, the beetles are so thoroughly known that any chance of finding new species is comparatively slight, while the Microlepidoptera, Microdiptera and hymenopterous parasites are in lessening proportion imperfectly known, and new species are quite frequently detected. The enthusiast, indeed, who expects the accomplishment of great possibilities in entomological research within the next few years may claim, further, that the prospect for rich systematic discovery lies in going over the field the second time, to which we are already becoming accustomed, for the purpose of revision, and, in connection, the search for night forms deserves extended recognition, while at any time it presents a hopeful incentive to collect in territory otherwise considered well worked. Really, in spite of the present advanced state of entomological science, the combined knowledge of the insect fauna of our country in general is, perhaps, still regarded by some workers as having progressed but little beyond the superficial stage. In fact, the names of new species are constantly swelling our already crowded lists, and, what is remarkable, discoveries of new species are often made in old-settled localities long familiar to entomologists. Attention has been given principally to the larger forms of insects, while a host of little things, the greater proportion probably being night denizens, doubtless remain unknown everywhere, and all that is needed to disclose them to science is a larger number of diligent workers, both collectors and students. Not only the beginner in insect study, but the teacher and experienced collector as well, can find instructive diversion combined with healthful recreation in the cool, refreshing, open air of summer nights by devoting part, if not all, of evenings to collecting specimens. Possibly the student may be regularly employed by day in business or trade, especially since many students are obliged to work in summer-time; but in the evenings, when the time is usually one's own, a grand opportunity for acquaintance with our insect neighbors awaits him ready at hand, whether the interested person is situated in country or city. Employment by day, then, no matter how confining it may be, in business or other calling, should not bar a person from making a collection of insects as long as evenings are free, and in this respect entomology has an advantage over other branches of science in which material cannot be so readily secured at night. Changes of weather and influence of the moon have a wonderful effect on the movements of insects at night. Warm, damp, dark nights, without perceptible wind, afford the best conditions towards inducing night insects into activity; then they may be noticed in throngs hovering about every exposed light. At other times, when insects do not appear in ordinary numbers at the lights, the principal reasons may be due to a chilliness of the air or to a strong wind, in which cases only few of the stronger and hardier species seem to venture out of their haunts. Even on other occasions, when there is no shining moon, and all conditions are apparently favorable for impelling insects to fly, the collector will sometimes meet with disappointment, and be unable to account for the scarcity of specimens around artificial lights. At such times, as well as when the moon is shining, the collector should direct his attention to other methods of collecting, such as the sweeping of herbage, which can be resorted to particularly on chilly or windy nights; and, in case of moonlight, he should remember to select the shaded portions in thickets, woods, orchards, or parks. A friend with whom I have used the sugar bait relates that he never noticed any difference in collecting whether the moon shone or not; in fact, he paid no regard whatever to either moonlight or dark nights, but went ahead just the same for one night as another. Doubtless the insects prefer to remain in hiding whenever the moon shines, for they are commonly active before the moon rises, if after dark, or should it set before dawn, they stir about somewhat. The suddenness with which good collecting has failed time and again just at the rising of the moon is remarkable. The practical collector will soon learn to note the conditions presented each night before he starts operations, and so can guide himself in the selection of the proper course to adopt in obtaining the best results. On rainy nights he might open a window or two of his room opposite to the direction of the wind, thereby being shielded from rain and in the path of insects flying against the storm, and there catch whatever comes in to the light; for, in warm weather, such conditions are often extremely favorable towards bringing out the insects. Really there is no time throughout the growing season, whatever the conditions may ordinarily be, but what can be used in one way or another to good advantage in collecting. The difficulty will be to keep up the mounting of the specimens as fast as the collecting is done. Only the novice will re quire instruction in regard to the mounting and preservation of specimens; otherwise the subject need not be mentioned here. Directions for mounting, also for preparing a collecting outfit, are usually contained in elementary guides to the study of insects, and a book of this kind should be in the hands of every person interested. in insect life. Several methods, as already referred to, are employed in the collecting of insects at night, one of which is the simple and ever reliable practice of sweeping by means of the net, so commonly followed by day. This method has previously been recommended, particularly for action on moonlight, chilly or windy nights, though the captures will mainly be the smaller kinds of insects, such as minute flies of the order Diptera, parasites of the order Hymenoptera, and tiny moths of the order Lepidoptera, all of which, nevertheless, deserve attention and careful mounting. Among these little creatures new species are probable. The curious fact has often been observed that after sunset myriads of these little insects can be swept from grass or weeds which in the hot sunshine of the day seemed almost destitute of insect life. A few minutes of sweeping is generally sufficient for gathering enough material to keep the collector busy for hours with the mounting. Usually at twilight or later the grass becomes wet with dew; consequently net and specimens get sticky with moisture; but if the poison bottle is lined inside with blotting-paper, a plan which it is advisable to follow at any time, and not too many specimens put in together, there is little danger of injury to them. As a further precaution, strips of soft paper, such as newspaper, can also be placed loosely in the bottle, to absorb moisture and prevent specimens from shifting and rubbing each other or adhering into masses too large for safety while the bottle is carried. One blessing, perhaps, for which we ought to be thankful, is that only certain small groups of night insects are musical; if all kinds of insects were as noisy as some examples of the Orthoptera, there is no telling whether a person, unless he was deaf, would be able to sleep in the summer-time. A year ago last summer the following appeared in a local paper: "KATYDID SANG ALL NIGHT. "The neighbors in the 700 block on Tennessee street have been greatly annoyed for the past week by a katydid. It would sing all night long, and sang so loud that some thought it must be a treetoad. All attempts to shake it from the tree proved useless. It was caught last night, and could be termed a giant katydid. It measured about an inch and a quarter long and had a very large body; its wings were immense, It will be a good specimen for one who is collecting insects." (From Lawrence Journal, August 4, 1904.) On inquiring if the specimen could be obtained, it was learned that chickens had eaten it. However, my disappointment was banished a few nights later when a strong rasping noise was heard issuing from a tree which stood near my home, and as the shrill sounds continued all night it was evident that an accommodating specimen of what was wanted had located there for my benefit. A night or two after, when another songster in another tree began calling also, the conclusion was reached that it was time to make an attempt, at least, to capture one or both of the supposed insects. Provided with lighted lantern and poison bottle, one night, the author climbed the tree, a moderate-sized elm, in which the first fiddler was harbored, and located the fellow by his racket. He was a little cautious as my light approached him and stopped his fiddling, but remained within reach, although attempting to conceal himself among leaves on the under side of a branch. With one well-aimed grab he was secured in my hand and soon reposed safely in my poison bottle. However, his comrade in the other tree, a smaller elm, repeatedly evaded me by climbing out on the tips of branches beyond reach and out of sight. The captured specimen was identified as Cyrtophyllus perspicillatus Linnæus, and is now the only example of its species in the collection of the University of Kansas. Some years ago, while living in Colorado Springs, the business of insect collecting was one night unexpectedly forced upon me. A migration of locusts, the Long-winged grasshopper, known as Dissosteira longipennis Thomas, was evidently detracted from flight over or near the city by the electric lights, directly after dark one evening, and the streets soon became covered with the living insects. In seeking every source of light, they invaded open places of business faster than they could be cleared away. They were caught in handfuls and flung into pails of scalding water to end their struggles. The sidewalks and street-crossings of several business blocks were covered so thickly that people walking there would crush a mass of bodies underfoot at every step. Next morning the street cleaners carted off dead grasshoppers by the wagon-load, and for fear another invasion might come, the streets were not lighted for several nights afterward. This phenomenon occurred on Thursday evening, July 21, 1898; and the ridiculous part of the affair was |