456 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



from their anus are the larger Carabi. These, if roughly handled, will 

 spirt to a considerable distance an acrid, caustic, stinking liquor, which if 

 it touch the eyes or the lips occasions considerable pain.^ — The rose- 

 scented Capricorn {^Ceramhyx moschaius) produced a similar effect upon 

 Mr. Sheppard by similar means. The fluid in this had a powerful odor 

 of musk. — The acid of ants has long been celebrated, and is one of their 

 most powerful means of defence. When the species that have no sting 

 make a wound with their jaws, they insinuate into it some of this acid, the 

 effluvia produced by which are so subtile and penetrating, that it is impos- 

 sible to hold your head near the nest of the hill-ant (^Formica rufa), when 

 the ants are much disturbed, without being almost suffocated. This odor 

 thus proceeding from myriads of ants is powerful enough, it is said, to kill 

 a frog, and is probably the means of securing the nest from the attack of 

 many enemies. — Dr. Arnold observed a species of bug (^Scutellera) 

 abundant upon some polygamous plants which he could not determine, 

 and in all their different states. They were attended closely by hosts of 

 ants, and when disturbed emitted a very strong smell. One of these 

 insects ejected a minute drop of fluid into one of his eyes, which occasion- 

 ed for some hours considerable pain and inflammation. In the evening, 

 however, they appeared to subside ; but on the following morning the 

 inflammation was renewed, became worse than ever, and lasted for three 

 days. 



Other insects, w^ien under alarm, discharge a fluid from the joints and 

 segments of their body. You have often seen what has been called the 

 unctuous or oil beetle {Meloe ProscarabcBUs) , and I dare say, when you 

 took it, have observed orange-colored or deep-yellow drops appear at its 

 joints. As these insects feed upon acrid plants, the species of crowfoot 

 or Ranunculus, it is probable that this fluid partakes of the nature of their 

 food, and is very acrimonious — and thus may put to flight its insect assail- 

 ants or the birds, from neither of which it could otherwise escape, being 

 a very slow and sluggish, and at the same time very conspicuous animal. 

 Another beetle (Elenopliorus collaris) has likewise this faculty. — The 

 lady-bird, we know, has been recommended as a cure for the tooth-ache. 

 This idea may have taken its rise from a secretion of this kind being 

 noticed upon it. I have observed that one species (Coccinella bipunctata), 

 when taken, ejects from its joints a yellow fluid, which yields a powerful 

 but not agreeable scent of opium. — Asilus crabroniformis, a dipterous 

 insect, once when I took it, emitted a white milky fluid from its proboscis, 

 the joints of the legs and abdomen, and the anus. The common scorpion- 

 fly {Raphidia ophiopsis) likewise, upon the same occasion ejects from its 

 proboscis a brown and fetid drop.^ Some insects have peculiar organs 

 from which their fluids issue, or are ejaculated. Thus the larvae of saw- 

 flies, when taken into the hand cover themselves with drops, exuding 

 from all parts of their body, of an unpleasant penetrating scent.^ That 

 of Cimbex lalea, of the same tribe, from a small hole just above each 

 spiracle, syringes a similar fluid in horizontal jets of the diameter of a 

 thread, sometimes to the distance of more than a foot.^ — The caterpillar 

 of the great emperor moth (^Saturnia Pavonia tnajor) also spirts out, when 



» De Geer, iv. 86. Geoffr. i. 141. 



2 De Geer, ii. 734. 3 Reaumur, v. 96. * De Geer, ii. 937. 



