Rambles among the insects

Front matter

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

Shelf.„.^4 3

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Introduction

If my young friends will peruse this book with half the pleasure I enjoyed whilst gathering the facts which it relates, I shall be abundantly repaid for the labor expended in writing it. The air and fields are so full of beautiful and sprightly things of life that I shall not fail to confer a favor upon intelligent and inquisitive boys and girls if I succeed in inspiring them with an interest in the study of insect-life. The objects embraced in this study are within the reach of every one. They intrude themselves into our presence uncalled, and at times are most unwelcome. For this reason they are despised, and their structure, instincts and domestic habits are unstudied. But, like all the works of God, they display his wisdom and goodness, and are, on this account, worthy of the profoundest study.

I have endeavored to present the history of insects, embracing their early life, their structure, instinct, intelligence, cunning, their architectural skill, habits and customs at home, care of their young, modes of capturing their prey and their wonderful transformations, in a simple and attractive style, that my young friends may be induced to enter upon the study of insect-life, and to prosecute it till their familiarity with

6 INTRODUCTION,

the subject shall impart to them all the enthusiasm of young naturalists.

In addition to these facts, so interesting in themselves, I have directed special attention to the testimony they bear to the goodness and wisdom of God in adapting the structure and instinct of insects to the preservation and happiness of the individuals. I have also sought to point out the important lessons of industry, perseverance, endurance, economy and foresight which their domestic life and habits teach. With what success I have accomplished my undertaking the careful and interested reader must decide.

I embrace this occasion to acknowledge my great indebtedness to Mr. C. A. Blake, Corresponding Secretary of the American Entomological Society, for very important assistance rendered me in the preparation of this work. Before the manuscript was put into the hands of the Presbyterian Board of Publication it was submitted to his critical examination and review, and his criticisms and suggestions were incorporated in the book. He has also read the revised proof-sheets, and has thus given me the benefit of his extensive and accurate knowledge in making it reliable in its classification and statement of scientific facts.

I am also much indebted to the Board of Publication for the neat and elegant style in which it has presented this book to the public.

The Author.

Chapter I. Page

Entomology, what?— Insects, what?— Eggs of Insects— Lace-winged Fly— Saw-fly— Dragon-fly 11

Chapter II

Mary's Logic— Mistake of a School-teacher — The Caterpillar ; its Structure; its Eyes; its Noses; its Clothing — The Chrysalis; origin of the word— Cocoons of Isabella Moth; of the Cecropla Moth; of the Spotted Pdidnota; of the Di/tisculw— Pupa of the Dragon-fly ; of the Tobacco-worm — How Pupa? breathe — Wisdom of God 26

Chapter III

Change from the Caterpillar to the Pupal state — Pieris brassiccc spinning its Cord; waiting its Change; its Pupa — The Butterfly's Escape from the Pupa ; how it looks when it first sees the Light — Charlie's Reflections — Henry's Carelessness reproved— The Study of Insect-life Profitable 41

Chapter IV

An Interesting Capture — The Asterias Butterfly ; its Caterpillar; the Moulting process ; its change into a Chrysalis; the Perfect Insect; where it lays its Eggs; how to destroy the Caterpillar— The Right to take the Life of Caterpillars called in question — Arrival of a City Cousin 51

Chapter V

The Butterfly ; its Wings — Mary rubs off one of the Spots — Nature's Coloring-matter — Revelations of the Microscope excite Wonder — i CONTENTS.

PAGE

Scales of Papilio asterias— Wonderful Mosaic— Skill of the Divine Architect— How the Scales are put on the Wing— Why Scales differ in Size and Outline— Epicurus not Wise— Argument for the Deity 64

CHAPTEE VI.

A Happy Company — Meaning of the word Lepidoptera — Eyes of Butterflies—Charlie's Moral Reflections — Why the Butterfly has so many Eyes— Why they are not Injured by Sunlight and Dust — Eyes of other Insects — The Stemmata— Adaptation of the Butterfly's Eyes to their uses — Moral Lessons 80

CHAPTEE VII.

Uncle Samuel returns from the City — Butterfly's Antennae — Antennas of Moths — Number of Joints in an Antenna; Wonderful Skill in its Structure — Antennae Scales— Uses of the Antennas— Curious Custom of the Rhyssa lunator — Bees' use of their Antennae — Interesting Story of a Moth — How Bees communicate Intelligence — Remarkable Story of a Hungry Ant — Insects as Weather-prophets — How these Facts prove the Wisdom and Goodness of God and teach us Humility 91

CHAPTEE VIII.

The Papilio lurnus — How to prepare Specimens for the Cabinet — The Butterfly's Trunk — Bertha's Conjecture— Why called Proboscis ; its Structure — A Capital Arrangement — A Lesson of Order — Microscopical View of the Proboscis — Why God makes Small Objects so Beautiful—How the Butterfly uses its Trunk— Proboscis of Flies — Lessons taught 104

CHAPTEE IX.

Scene in the Family-room— Bible Story about Locusts— Uncle Samuel enters ; corrects False Impressions — History of the Cicada septendecim— Colorado Grasshopper ; its Remarkable Career — The Migratory Locust ; its Voraciousness — How the Mother-locust lays her Eggs ; its wonderful Musical Instrument; its Enemies— The different Devices used to Drive the Locusts from the Country— Singular Story = of a Monk in Ethiopia— Vain Scheme of the Arabs— Why called Locusts— Moral Teachings 116

CONTENTS. 9

CHAPTEE X.

PAGE

Nest of Moss Humble-bee Discovered; the Insect described— Four Families of Eymencptera—, Movr many Classes make up the Humble-bees— How the Moss Humble-bee builds its City — The Infant Bee; its Pupal state — Description of the Moss Humble-bee's Home; not always a Happy Home — Curious Customs of these Bees — Instinct not Blind— Wonderful Instinct of the Moss Humble-bee — Ambition to do Right recommended 137

CHAPTEE XL

Nest of the Andrcna vidua — Work of the Mother-bee ; its Description — How the Young are provided with Food — Home of the Tapestry-bee ; its Court Dress — How the Nest is lined with Poppy-flowers — How the Mother gathers Pollen for her Young — An Attractive Picture — MegachUe centuncularis ; its Wonderful History; its Curious House — Charlie feels Ashamed of Himself; he will be more Persevering hereafter — Mechanics among Insects demand our Respect — They are Taught by the All-wise 151

CHAPTEE XII.

A Mud-nest Found; it is taken to Uncle Samuel, and found to be the Nest of the Dauber-wasp — The Black Wasp — Agenia hombycina — Dauber-wasp — How the Mother-wasp builds her Nest — Inside View of Cells — Wonderful Transformation — Why the Worm is without Eyes— Intelligence of the Mother-bee— This Insect teaches Perseverance and Trust in God 165

CHAPTEE XIII.

The Ants— Wonderful Insects — Live in Communities— Grub — Workers — Ants make War with each other — Story of an Ant-war— Ant-hills— Ants' Cows— Slaveholding Ants— Slave Ants— The Driver Ants — Agricultural Ants of Texas ; their Farm — How they take care of their Harvest — Grand Works of the Ants — They teach us System.... 176

CHAPTEE XIV.

Visiting Ants; enter Houses without Knocking— Inhabitants Flee before them — White Ants misnamed — Belong to the Neuroptcra — i CONTENTS.

PAGE

Scales of Papilio aster ias— Wonderful Mosaic— Skill of the Divine Architect— How the Scales are put on the Wing— Why Scales differ in Size and Outline— Epicurus not Wise— Argument for the Deity 64

CHAPTEE VI.

A Happy Company— Meaning of the word Lepldoptera — Eyes of Butterflies—Charlie's Moral Reflections— Why the Butterfly has so many Eyes— Why they are not Injured by Sunlight and Dust — Eyes of other Insects — The Stemmata— Adaptation of the Butterfly's Eyes to their uses — Moral Lessons 80

CHAPTEE VII.

Uncle Samuel returns from the City — Butterfly's Antenna? — Antennae of Moths — ISumber of Joints in an Antenna; Wonderful Skill in its Structure — Antennae Scales— Uses of the Antennae— Curious Custom of the Ehyssa lunator — Bees' use of their Antennae — Interesting Story of a Moth — How Bees communicate Intelligence — Remarkable Story of a Hungry Ant — Insects as Weather-prophets — How these Facts prove the Wisdom and Goodness of God and teach us Humility 91

CHAPTEE VIII.

The Papilio iurnvs — How to prepare Specimens for the Cabinet — The Butterfly's Trunk — Bertha's Conjecture— Why called Proboscis ; its Structure — A Capital Arrangement — A Lesson of Order — Microscopical Yiew of the Proboscis — Why God makes Small Objects so Beautiful — How the Butterfly uses its Trunk — Proboscis of Flies— Lessons taught 104

CHAPTEE IX.

Scene in the Family-room— Bible Story about Locusts— Uncle Samuel enters ; corrects False Impressions — History of the Cicada septendeaim— Colorado Grasshopper ; its Remarkable Career — The Migratory Locust ; its Voraciousness — How the Mother-locust lays her Eggs; its wonderful Musical Instrument; its Enemies— The different Devices used to Drive the Locusts from the Country— Singular Story of a Monk in Ethiopia— Vain Scheme of the Arabs— Why called Locusts— Moral Teachings 116

CONTENTS. 9

CHAPTEE X.

PAGE

Nest of Moss Humble-bee Discovered; the Insect described— Four Families of Hymenoptera—, How many Classes make up the Humble-bees— How the Moss Humble-bee builds its City — The Infant Bee; its Pupal state— Description of the Moss Humble-bee's Home; not always a Happy Home — Curious Customs of these Bees— Instinct not Blind— Wonderful Instinct of the Moss Humble-bee — Ambition to do Right recommended 137

CHAPTEE XL

Nest of the Andrcna vicina — Work of the Mother-bee ; its Description — How the Young are provided with Food — Home of the Tapestry-bee ; its Court Dress — How the Nest is lined with Poppy-flowers — How the Mother gathers Pollen for her Young— An Attractive Picture — Megachile centuncularis ; its Wonderful History; its Curious House — Charlie feels Ashamed of Himself; he will be more Persevering hereafter — Mechanics among Insects demand our Respect — They are Taught by the All-wise 151

CHAPTEE XII.

A Mud-nest Found; it is taken to Uncle Samuel, and found to be the Nest of the Dauber-wasp — The Black Wasp — Agenia bombycina — Dauber-wasp — How the Mother-wasp builds her Nest — Inside View of Cells — Wonderful Transformation — Why the Worm is without Eyes— Intelligence of the Mother-bee— This Insect teaches Perseverance and Trust in God 165

CHAPTEE XIII.

The Ants— Wonderful Insects— Live in Communities— Grub — Workers — Ants make War with each other — Story of an Ant-war— Ant-hills— Ants' Cows— Slaveholding Ants— Slave Ants— The Driver Ants — Agricultural Ants of Texas ; their Farm — How they take care of their Harvest — Grand Works of the Ants — They teach us System.... 176

CHAPTEE XIV.

Visiting Ants; enter Houses without Knocking— Inhabitants Flee before them — White Ants misnamed— Belong to the Neuropiera —

10 CONTENTS.

PAGE

Tmnps lucifugum ; how they Establish their Empires— Dwellings of the Termes bellicosus of Africa— Why called Termites— Wonderful Size of a Termite Queen— Enemies of the Termites— Termites as Food— Wisdom of God shown in his putting bounds to the Increase of the White Ants 193

CHAPTEE XY.

Home of the Ant-Lion— The Clumsy Grub of the Ant-lion ; how it catches Ants — Charlie's Moral Reflections— A Spider in the Antlion's Pit — Growth and Transformations of the Ant-lion Grub — Why doubt the Heavenly Life awaiting the Christian ? — How Ant-lion Philosophers might Reason— Goodness of God— The Ant-lion never borrows Trouble — Practical Lessons 205

CHAPTEE XVI

One of the Anakim— The Bombycidce— The Caterpillar and its Silken Cocoon — The genus Telea, group Attaci — the A. polyphemits — An old Fable— The Silkworm Moth; its Value discovered by a Chinese Queen— Julius Csesar introduced Silk into Rome— Eggs brought to Constantinople by Monks— Silk-culture in Greece, France and England — Transformations of Silkworm — Unity of Design proven from the Adaptation of Silk to the wants of Man— Reflections 219

CHAPTEE XVII.

Spiders not true Insects; origin of their Family Name, Arachnidcc ; their wonderful Spinning-machine — Spider's Foot magnified — The Spider gets its Living honestly— Why called a Geometrician— Structure of its Web — Moral Spider-webs — Mygale nidulans — Mygale cementaria; its Cunning evidence of Intelligent Design — Moral Suggestions — Influence of the Study of Natural History 237

CHAPTEE XVIII.

The Water-spider— History of the Argyroneta aqvatica— Story of the Ancient Nymphs— How this Spider builds its Air-castle under Water— The Water-spider at Home — Charlie learns a Lesson of Courage in Face of Difficulties — The Raft-spider, Dolomedes fimbriatun ; how it builds its Raft ; always looking out for its Prey ; thoughtless Insects its Victims — The great Spiritual Raft-spider — Raftspider's Mission— Moral— Supper-bell closes the Talk— Something about the Progress of our Young Naturalists in their Study of Natural History — Close of the Story of Uncle Samuel's Rambles 253

CHAPTEE XIX.

Directions to Insect-hunters — Chief "Requisite, Enthusiasm — Nets— Setting-boards — Pins— "Where to find Butterflies and Moths — Farewell to Readers 270

Rambles among Insects.

Chapter I

ENTOMOLOGY, WHAT ? — INSECTS, WHAT ? — EGGS OF INSECTS — LACE-WINGED FLY — SAW-FLY — DRAGON- FLY.

OXE very pleasant evening in the month of April Uncle Samuel was sitting on the piazza admiring the beauty of the vegetation, which was just putting on its spring attire, and listening to the merry songs of the birds, that had so lately returned to their former haunts, and were industriously engaged in building cozy little homes for themselves and their families. But Uncle Samuel was not to remain undisturbed, for just then his sister's children, Charlie, Henry, James and Mary, coming home from school, broke in upon his meditations by their usual inquisitiveness.

" I found a word in my lesson to-day, uncle/' said James, "that I didn't understand. Do you think it right to put such big words in books made for children as young as I am ? Such words just puzzle boys' brains, if they have any. I don't

12 RAMBLES AMONG IXSECTS.

think it fair. I know I just blunder on them, that's all, and I don't know what they mean when I do pronounce them. Our reading lesson was about some thing or someplace called Entomology. I don't know whether it is a country or not. If it is, it would be a good place to go to catch all kinds of insects, for there are a great many found there — some very beautiful, and others just as ugly and bad as they can be. Now do tell us what Entomology is."

Now, Charlie had studied a little Latin and Greek, and had learned something about the derivation of words, and how the meaning of compound words is taken from the parts of which they were composed. So, as soon as James was through, he said,

" I think I can answer that question myself. Entomology comes from two Greek words,* and is the name of the science that treats of insects. It tells us about their structure and their habits and instincts, just as geography tells us about the earth and its rivers and oceans and mountains and plains and countries. — Am I right, uncle ?"

" Yes, you have given us its meaning correctly, and I am glad to see that you make a practical use of your knowledge of language. And as to putting ' big ' words in books for children, of which James complains, it is all right w r hen they are better than any other words that can be used. When you know

WHAT IS SECTS ARE. 13

their meaning, 'big' words are as easily understood as ' little ' words, and often more expressive. Do you understand what entomology is now, James ?"

" I think I do. It isn't a place where any person lives and where insects are found, but it is a study like arithmetic and geography. It won't puzzle my brains any more."

"Since you have mentioned entomology," said Uncle Samuel, " I remember my promise that when I would come to see you I would take a ramble with you occasionally among the insects. You are surrounded by beautiful woods and valleys and meadows, where insects like to live, so that we may visit their homes and learn how they are built. I can tell you a great many interesting stories about how they keep house and about their music — for there are several bands of musicians among the insects — and about the way they walk and fly and leap, and about their wisdom and their cunning tricks."

" Oh, do tell us !" said Marv. " I like stories so much. But what are insects? Do you mean the little ugly bugs I hate so much ? I am sure they won't make nice stories. Mother says bugs were never made for any good, but only to vex us and make us angry."

" You ought not to hate anything, my dear Mary, that a kind and good God has made. He made all things very good. It is sin that has made anything bad. When I speak of insects, I include bugs, for bugs are part of the great household of insects.

But ugly and bad as many of them seem to you, if you only knew more about them you would love and admire them. There are some very ugly and bad boys and girls, who seem to live only to torment and vex their schoolmates ; but you don't hate all boys and girls on that account.

"But I must answer your question about insects. An insect is a small animal whose body is made up of several parts, like rings jointed together, so as to move on each other. A caterpillar is an insect, because it is made up of several ring-like divisions which it draws into each other when it is in motion. A wasp is an insect. Its head is joined to its body by a fine thread, and its body is joined to its abdomen by a very slender cord. Bees, ants, butterflies, beetles, crickets, dragon -flies and mosquitoes are all insects. Among such interesting little creatures as these we shall have our ramble, picking one up here and there, examining it, learning all we can about its structure and its history, and what kind of habits it has."

"Why are flies and bees and ants and all the other things you named called insects f Wouldn't some other name do just as well?" asked fidgety little Miss Mary, who had been restless for some time, waiting for a stopping-place in Uncle Samuel's long talk.

" That's right, little inquisitive ; don't let me go on too fast for you. There is a reason why the word insect is used as the name of these little

WHAT INSECTS ARE. 15

animals rather than any other word, and Mary ought to know it."

" I think I know the reason/' said Charlie. Now, Charlie took great delight in finding out the reason of things, and was specially interested in the study of words, and was always ready to give his opinion. " It is derived from a Latin word * which means ' cut into/ and I think it describes flies and bees and wasps and such creatures better than any other name, for some of them look as if they were t cut into' in more places than one. Look at this fly, Mary ; its head is almost separated from its body. Does it not look as if somebody had almost cut it in two?"

" Oh, I see now," said Mary ; " they just make believe somebody has cut them in two, and call themselves insects. I understand."

"I am glad Charlie has so well convinced you that these familiar friends whose homes we propose to visit have been wisely named. You will find it capital fun and healthful exercise to chase butterflies and hunt beetles under stones, and to watch caterpillars when they are eating and spinning, and wasps building their houses. I will go with you to the woods sometimes, and we shall have many glorious rambles together."

" I remember," said Henry, " how James and I chased butterflies last summer in our meadow. One day we saw a beautiful one with black wings * Iitseclum, from inseco, to cut into.

marked around the edges with yellow spots, and a tail divided like a swallow's. When I caught it, James cried out, ' Oh how splendid ! Isn't it a beauty? The dear little thing ! How I wish I could pet it and have it all for ray own !' But it was a beauty, though ! Well, we put it under a glass, and it fluttered about and knocked almost all the paint off its wings and broke pieces out of them. I was so sorry. One day mother took the glass away, but the poor thing did not live long to enjoy its freedom."

" I heard you say once that you hated caterpillars, they were so ugly," said Uncle Samuel. " Now, that very beautiful butterfly was in its early life a caterpillar, and it was just as splendidly adorned when it crawled as when it flew. When it was a caterpillar, its body was a brilliant green, having a yellow stripe on each side and a row of blue dots, while its under side and its feet were reddish. It feeds on the leaves of the sassafras, where you may happen to find it in the summer. This beautiful and tasteful caterpillar will excite your admiration when you study it as much as you did the butterfly you captured.

" I am glad that you observed the markings of your imprisoned butterfly as closely as you did. I want you to go through the world with your eyes open, and your minds awake and ready to learn. There are beautiful objects all around you if you would but look at them. There are lessons to learn

INSECTS WITH TRADES. 17

from the tiniest insect if you would only read the book that nature spreads wide open before you. And there is no department in nature you can study more easily than the insect-world. It is peopled with immense multitudes of interesting objects, w T hich you can readily collect and examine, and by close observation you can become familiar with their various instincts and habits.

"One of the wonderful things about insects is that they follow different trades and employments as men do. But they are not all industrious. Some are idle, and, like idle men, have but little of their own to live on. A man who was well acquainted with insect-life describes their trades and occupations in this way : i Here we see the industrious laborer busy at his work, there the lazy, lounging beggar ; here, up on the leafy boughs or before the gates of their subterranean abodes, myriads of musicians are playing their fiddles, and there the skillful architect is building his wonderful dwelling ; while above, in the blue sky, flutters a high nobility clad in gold, silver, purple and silk, fed on the nectar of flowers, and on the earth below are lurking troublesome drones and disgusting parasites/ "

u What do you mean by subterramean abodes f asked little Mary.

" Sub-terranea/i is the word, and it means under the ground, and abodes means homes. ( Subterranean abodes ' are the homes that some insects make for themselves under the ground. Men have such homes out West. They call them c dug-outs/ Insects that live in i dug-outs ' sometimes open their doors and sit down before them and fill the air with their music. Their music is not very attractive to us, but it pleases the taste of the little creatures who make it."

" But what's the use of learning anything about insects/' continued Mary, "when mother says they are good for nothing but pests?"

" Your mother means the mischievous insects which destroy our gardens and eat up what we want for our own use, or annoy us with their unwelcome music, or jag us with their poisonous stings. But all insects are not pests. There are a great many good insects. Some are used by us for coloring-matter and medicine and food, and some are kind enough to spin fine silk for thread and clothing ; some spend all their days taking away dead animals and other filth, so as to keep the air we breathe pure and save us from sickness and death. Now, we ought not to class all these friendly insects with those that are doing us all the harm they can. We should know our insect friends as well as our insect enemies. There is a very good reason, therefore, w r hy we should learn all we can about insects, so that we may keep our enemies from doing us injury, and give our friends a chance to do us all the good they can. There is another thing we must not lose sight of in our study of insects, and that is the wisdom and goodness of God in giving fore-

EGGS OF INSECTS. 19

sight and skill to them, so that they not only take good care of themselves, but know how to provide for their offspring. We must never forget that all the insects are praising God every day, and we ought to learn from them to love and praise him daily."

At the invitation of their uncle the children went into his studio, where he had his fine microscope, with which he was ready to show to his interested young friends enlarged views of the minute parts of insects, and thus more fully exhibit to them the wonderful skill and wisdom of their Creator. He placed a few insect eggs under the microscope and called his young pupils to examine them.

" How r beautiful !" exclaimed Henry. " They are carved as though some skillful artist had made them. Who would have thought that such splendid eggs could come from insects ?"

" You see," said Uncle Samuel, " how the good God takes delight in making his works, even the most minute, very beautiful. It is just as easy for him to adorn an insect's egs; with carved work and with different colors, such as w r hite, orange, blue, red and green, as to make them smooth and white, or black only. I will show you a variety of eggs, each one possessing a shape and color and carving peculiar to itself. But here is one that has a special arrangement for the convenience of the little worm when it is ready to leave its birthplace and go out into the world to make its ow T n living. It has a lid, which the worm has just opened on its way out of the egg. Now, this lid is a contrivance showing design and proving the wisdom and skill of the Creator in the structure of the egg. It has a hinge by which it is fastened to one side of the opening, and while the little worm is growing within the egg the lid is secured to the other side of the opening by strong fastenings. When the worm is ready to escape, it knows just how to unfasten the door that confines it in its prison. The lids of some insects' eggs are so fastened to all sides of the openly. i.-an ego [ n g that the worm pushes them open by force ; others are held down by a spring, which the insect touches jusc in the right way and the right time."

"Are all insects' eggs provided with such a convenient door for the escape of the little worm?" asked Charlie.

" Not all. Very many insects are under the necessity of gnawing their way out of the egg very much as the little chick pecks its way out of its egg. Insects that pass the first period of their life in water — like the young of the gnat and mosquito — always make their escape from the lower end of the egg directly into the water. This is a wise instinct; for if they should make a mistake and crawl out on

THEIR EGGS. 21

the ground, they would die, because they cannot breathe out of water/'

" Does their mother take care of the little baby-insects and feed them ?" asked Mary.

" The mothers of most insects," answered Uncle Samuel, " never see their offspring, and would not know them if they did, they are so unlike their parents in shape and habits of life. So they do not feed their little baby-insects; but some insect-mothers lay up enough good, rich food for their young just where they can get it as soon as they leave the egg, and others lay their eggs on the trees and plants, on the leaves of which their young worms feed. The butterfly has no relish for the coarse food on which its caterpillar lives and grows ; yet when she is ready to lay her eggs, as though she remembered what she ate when a young crawling worm, she carefully selects the very kind of tree or plant on which she once fed, and there deposits her eggs. So when the young leave the egg they find themselves surrounded with the very kind of food they need. Is not this very kind and thoughtful in the butterfly ?