man's chief competitors, the insects 



53 



of insects some of which, especially among the grasshoppers 

 and their allies, will eat nearly all parts, fresh or dried, and 

 animal substances as well. The dead remains of a green 

 plant, moist or dry 

 or submerged in 

 water also furnish 

 food for hosts of 

 other insects. The 

 parasites that grow 

 upon these plants, 

 the mistletoes and 

 beech-drops and all 

 the other kinds, 

 are also food for 

 insects. The fungi 

 that attack all 

 plants and those 

 that feed on their 

 decayed remains 

 furnish subsistance 

 for swarms of dif- 

 ferent insects, 

 especially the fun- 

 gus gnats, many 

 beetles and some 

 termites, while 

 other insects live 

 on moulds and 

 yeasts. Figs. 



Of insects proper 

 the dragon-flies 

 and alhed t^-pes, the robber or asilid flies, ah the water bugs, the 

 assassin or reduviid bugs, the mantises, hornets, and tiger, 

 carabid, and giant water beetles are at all times predaceous, 

 and like the spiders, scorpions and centipedes, devour mainly 

 insects. But the larger water bugs and beetles and the larvae 



12-14. A Trigger-fish, a Ballyhoo, and a Moray. 

 For explanations of the figures see p. xi. 



