40 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



larger moth than the male, the respective measurements across the outspread 

 wings being — male, two and three-quarter inches ; female, three and a-half inches. 

 Apart from the difference in size, the sexes may be distinguished by their antennae ; 

 in the female it is merely toothed, but in the male the teeth are long and comb-like, 

 technically pectinated. The mouth-parts are in a very elementary condition, and 

 there is no proboscis. 



Some remarkable stories have been told of the power of the goat-caterpillar 

 to pierce through ordinary receptacles in which it has been imprisoned by collectors 

 anxious to obtain perfect specimens of the moth. 



Carpenter Bees. 



The carpenter bees, which are the largest of all bees, are not represented in 



this country, though several 

 species are found in the 

 South of Europe, and the 

 best known of these ^ ex- 

 tends its northern range as 

 far as the neighbourhood of 

 Paris. The details of the 

 industry of this bee were 

 observed and chronicled 

 many years ago by 

 Reaumur, whose account 

 was so accurate and com- 

 plete that little could be 

 added to it by later in- 

 vestigators. The bee is of 

 portly build, much like a 

 large humble bee, and of a 

 dark violet or black colour 

 — though some species have 

 yellow males. 



The female carpenter, 

 having passed the winter in 

 some snug corner, awakens 

 in spring to the important 

 duties of life, and looks out for some post or pole that will serve her purpose ; 

 for she does not touch living wood. As a proper carpenter she sees that 

 her material is well " seasoned," and, therefore, more easily worked than 

 timber with the saj:* in it In the scheme of nature (which dot's not take 

 account of man's accpiired whims which have developed into necessities) all 

 dead wood has got to be cleared away as speedily as may be ; and so a nunibt'r 

 of creatures devote part of their lives to this laudable object of breaking up effete 

 material and makmg it available for fresh uses. 



Broad-footed Carpenter Bee. 



The male (above) and female of this large bee are shown of the natural size ; and the 

 very hair>' character of the legs is evident. It will be seen that in this respect tlic sexes 

 differ, especially in the fore-legs. There is also a difference in the form of the antennae. 



This they do either by eating it 



*■ Xylocopa violacea. 



