The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1913-01-10
Student HUNTS BUG
Member Of chronological Stan
Tells of Expedition.
Small Beetle-like Insects Are Neys,
Known to Venture From crevices
During payiisht-Rare Species
Are Worth $25.

--a
MISUNDERSTANDING who waRs
incessant war Oh cockroaches and
other yermin are cautioned by en-.
tomologists to stay their hands and
inquire carefully into the ~antecedents
of any black beeltelike bug which
peers around a corner of the kitchen
sink. For the visitor may be none
other than one of the ~amblychila
baroni c~icindelidae, the most aristo.
cratic family In bugdom, whose mem.
bers retail at as much as s25 apiece,
provided they are delivered with limbs
and feelers intact.
A former student of the University
OF Chicago, who is now on the en-.
tomological staff Of the department
of agriculture at Washington, a few
days ago described his expedition into
the native haunts Of the amblychila,
which he explored long enough to
gather in considerable pin money by
the sale of whole families.
When l learned the baroni had
been seen in an obscure part of Arr.
iona only about half a dozen bugs
were known to entomologists," said
the investigator. One of these was
in the Leconte and Horn collection In
Philadelphia. Most of the others were
in the River collection in San Fran.
cisco.
The first had been caught near
lInha riu -at,,r y, lfof ay,n +.
Schaeffer also located a few southeast
of Nogales, AriZ. l was familiar with
the characteristic Of the creatures
through my studies under Curator
Snow Of the University Of Kansas,
now deceased, and when he invited
to join a party into the noun.
tains OF Arizona to hunt the ambly-
chlla was glad to go as IL there had
been buried treasure at the end Of
the journey.
I'VE found conditions favorable at
Peach Springs, near Ashford, Ariz.
From there we went into the noun
tains. There were no amblychila to
be seen, but we acted on the general
Supposition that they were in this
1eighborhood. We spent several days
moving about in the mountains and
1nally selected a favorable spot for
he bug to appear.
Now, the amblychila baroni family
s most exclusive and has never been
to come forth in broad day.
light Twilight and an hours before
are supposed to be the times
Vhen they appear. We tried several
WIlights and several dawns without
esult. One night a light rain fell
nd we agreed that the da.npness
invite the bugs out, although
made 1t decidedly uncomfortable
us.
mat night We scattered over the
Ills and kept watch near ~crevices In
rocks. l lay with my head resting
my elbow watching innumerable
lsects and bugs crawl by in the
lady light. Finally / saw the long.
lack feelers Of what might be one Of
lie ~amblychila appear, and then an
her. | waited until they got well
of the c~revice, for they are de-
.dedly cautious creatures, then
'ooped the two up in my hand. BY
leir struggles l knew that | had the
ght species. No bug struggles as
ard as the baroni. Then | stuck
lem into a small par of cyanide of
,tassium which | carried. The fumes
lied them quickly.
I sold a number of my amblychila
ironi for S25 end some for y15 and
%. Our expedition multiplied the
lmber of know specimens consider
'ly and the price went down a little.
know how many specimens our
tire party captured, but altogether
e expedition was a success from a
onetary as well as an tentomological