INSECTS 

 INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION 



INTRODUCTION. 



Insect defined. — Brain and Nerves. — Air-pipes and Breathing-holes. 



— Heart and Blood. — Insects are produced from Eggs. — Metamorpho- 

 ses, or Transformations. — Examples of Complete Transformation. — 

 Partial Transformation. — Larva, or Infant State. — Pupa, or Inter- 

 mediate State. — Adult, or Winged State. — Head, Eyes, Antenna, 

 AND Mouth. — Thorax or Chest, Wings, and Legs. — Abdomen or Hind- 

 body, Piercer, and Sting. — Number of Insects compared with Plants. 



— Classification. Orders. Coleoptera. Orthoptera. Hemiptera. 

 Neuroptera. Lepidoptera. Hymeno'ptera. Diptera. Other Orders 

 and Groups. — Remarks on Scientific Names. 



The benefits which we derive from insects, though neither 

 few in number, nor inconsiderable in amount, are, if we except 

 those of the silk-worm, the bee, and the cochenille, not very 

 obvious, and are almost entirely beyond our influence. On the 

 contrary, the injuries that we suffer from them are becoming 

 yearly more apparent, and are more or less within our control. 

 A familiar acquaintance with our insect enemies and friends, in 

 all their forms and disguises, will afford us much help in the dis- 

 covery and proper application of the remedies for the depreda- 

 tions of the former, and will tend to remove the repugnance 

 wherewith the latter are commonly regarded. 



Destructive insects have their appointed tasks, and are hmited 

 in the performance of them ; they are exposed to many accidents 

 through the influence of the elements, and they fall a prey to 

 numerous animals, many of which are also of the insect race, 

 which, while they fulfil their own part in the economy of nature, 

 contribute to prevent the undue increase of the noxious tribes. 

 Too often, by an unwise interference with the plan of Provi- 

 dence, we defeat the very measures contrived for our protection. 

 We not only suffer from our own carelessness, but through ignor- 



