NIGHT COLLECTING Although some nocturnal insects are taken in traps, or found asleep or in hiding during the day, night collecting amply repays the extra effort which it may demand. The principal difference between diurnal and nocturnal collecting is that, at night, the collector must provide his own light. For such purposes, a strong flashlight is adequate. The gasoline-burning Coleman Lantern is exceedingly efficient in shedding a brilliant illumination over a larger area. An electric headlamp, with focussing beam, is much esteemed by some experienced collectors. It has the double advantage of freeing both lands, and concentrating its beam, and the wearer's attention, on a comparatively small area. It is especially valuable for locating spiders, as their eyes, like those of some insects, are chatoyant; that is, they reflect the light which falls upon them as points of vivid color. In the concent- rated brilliance of the headlamp, every spider within range, if looking in your direction, springs to your attention instantly. Nocturnal collectors will find it both pleasant and convenient to work in pairs or trios, one to carry the light, one to hold the killing bottles, and possibly one to swing the net. Other equipment can be distributed among them, and the party will thus be prepared to perform effectively any collecting operation which may be required. Any collecting technique which is effective by day can be practised at night with equal or superior re- sults. Active diurnal species, particularly grasshop- pers, will be found clinging to the stems of tall grasses, quietly asleep. Leaves, flowers, and crevices also shelter a slumbering multitude, flies, beetles, dragon- flies, and others, all of which can be had for the trouble of picking. On the other hand, nocturnal species will be awake and busy. Adult beetles, which as larvae bored in wood, will be found walking over the bark of dead or dying trees. Beating and sweeping are both especially productive in the twilight, at which time the nectar-drinking moths also appear. The irresistible fascination of the flame for the moth is proverbial, and although not all the insects so attracted are moths, nor are all moths affected, it is the basis of the most familiar nocturnal collecting tech- nique. Even in cities, street lamps, porch lights, and illuminated windows attract a surprising number and variety of insects. In the country, remote from other sources of illumination, a single lantern may bring in tousands in a single night. As a collector, you can use this fact in several ways. You can simply hang up your lantern in a tree and stand beneath it, net in hand, awaiting what may appear. You will get a good many moths by this method, but you will lose most of the beetles and other insects which drop to the ground when they reach light of a certain intensity, instead of flying right into the flame as a moth will. If interested in such creatures, you will do much better to spread a sheet or canvas on the ground and set your lantern in the middle of it. The white cloth intensifies the effect of the illumination; and the dark specimens, falling upon it, are easy to see and sieze. You will find a flashlight useful for recovering specimens which drop beyond the edges of the sheet. If you have a car you might try this. Hang up a sheet over a high wall, or tie it to a horizontal branch. With pins, turn up the bottom edge to form a gaping pocket about a foot deep. Train the headlights of the car upon the sheet. The reflected light will attract numerous insects, most of which, when they strike the cloth, will drop into the pocket, whence you can remove them before they have a chance to climb out. Automatic light traps, which kill indiscriminately every insect which falls into them, are almost as numerous as collectors. Many kinds are described in technical literature. A very simple one is shown in fig. 14. It consists of a quart-size cyanide jar with a large metal funnel at the top. This is suspended immediately under a lamp, which may be one provided for the purpose or a porch, garage, or other outdoor light to which the trap is an incidental appendage. For the construction of this trap, see Leaflet Number 7. In addition to the lack of selectivity, automatic light traps have another drawback. They are too efficient. Under favorable circumstances they attract so many insects that, even if the jars are emptied 14 Fig. 14. Diagram of a simple light trap. A. Wire lamp-shade frame to support funnel.