44 



Marvels of Insect Life* 



Silver-Fish Insects. 



The silver-fish Insect is a famihar representative of the bristle-tail order, ^ 

 the members of which, though exceedingly abundant, are among the least known 

 of Insects. This ignorance is largely due to their minute size, their natural desire 

 for living under cover in damp situations, and the softness of their bodies, which 

 makes them unsuitable as specimens to adorn the cabinets of the collectors. But 

 the silver-fish 2 is known, because it is a household Insect with a weakness for 

 starch and sugar in various forms. It is an Insect of verv simple structure, 



closely allied to the springtails. It is less than half 

 an inch in length, and covered with minute scales, to 

 which the shining silvery appearance is due. There 

 are no wings. The creature has long, manv-jointed 

 antennae, and the hind-body is provided with three long 

 tails, that bear a great number of hairs. It has cutting 

 jaws, which are not hidden in the mouth, as they are in 

 the springtails. The fore-bodv has its three segments 

 distinct, and each one is of different size ; they are quite 

 distinct from those of the hind-bodv. On the under side 

 of the eight and ninth segments of the hind-body there 

 are minute false legs, probably similar to those of cater- 

 pillars. In this and other respects the silver-fisn and its 

 immediate allies are much like caterpillars. They 

 appear, indeed, to be Insects that have stopped short at 

 the caterpillar stage in the process of evolution and 

 never developed wings. They leave the egg in this stage 

 and never get beyond it, as there is here no occasion for 

 any metamorphosis, even of the modified type we find 

 in earwigs, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. The silver- 

 fish has only simple eyes. 



In one respect the silver-fish and our only other 

 very nearly related Insect differ in taste from the taste 

 prevailing among the bristle-tails, which, as stated, is 

 for a damp, cool retreat. The silver-fish is only found 

 indoors, which implies that it prefers comparatively 

 warm quarters ; and its relative, the fire-brat,^ likes 

 the additional warmth of a bakehouse. There is little 

 doubt that this Insect was for long confused with 

 the silver-fish, but about twenty years ago it was definitely diagnosed, and its scientific 

 name duly enrolled in the lists of British Insects. In several parts of the country 

 it was discovered to swarm under bakers' ovens, and to congregate around the mouth 

 of the oven when bread was baking. It feeds chiefly upon flour, but also upon its 

 own kith and kin ; and apj)cars to revel in a degree of heat such as would be fatal 

 to most Insects. 



A smaller Insect of similar form we might call the bronze-lish Insect,** for it is 

 mottled brown in colour with a metallic sheen. It is found onl\' upon rocky coasts. 



' Thysanura. ^ Lcpisma saccharina. ^ 'rhennol)ia Ivirnoium. ' Maclulis iiiarititna. 



The Sii.ver-Fish Insect. 



A beautiful little creature, covered with 

 silvery scales, which is often abundant in 

 cupboards where old papers and discarded 

 garments are stored. It is of very simple 

 structure, and never develops wings. Tlie 

 figure is si.x times the natural size. 



