288 



Marvels of Insect Life, 



Figwort-Beetles. 



[H. Baatm. 



the side of the cock- 

 roach's fore-body, where 

 it reaches the most im- 

 portant of the nerve 

 centres. But the sting 

 does not appear to have 

 the rapid effect noted in 

 other cases, for if the wasp 

 has to leave its victim 

 whilst it searches for a 

 hole to hide it in, the cock- 

 roach often manages to 

 slip into some convenient 

 chink and so escape. 



Two distinct though closely related species, that agree generally in their habits and life- 

 history. That to the left is the species more particularly described. They are shown 

 about si.x times the actual size. 



and 



The Figwort-Beetle. 



A common plant 

 about woods, is of 



named the figwort, that grows on roadside wastes 

 interest to the Insect-hunter as well as to the botanist. In June some plants 

 may be found whose leaves present a sorry spectacle, the fleshy portion 

 having been either eaten away entirely or riddled with small holes. ]\Iost persons 

 on examining such leaves and finding the creatures that are obviously causing the 

 damage would declare that they were small slugs. As a matter of fact they are 

 the grubs of a beetle ^ belonging to the great family of weevils. Most weevils are 

 very destructive, and many have obtained an unenviable notoriety on account 

 of their attacking fruits and food-plants. In the present case the plant is a mere 

 weed, and so the Insect that attacks it is of no consequence, and is known onlv to 

 the few. But there are points in its economy that make it worthy of a short 

 description, and may give rise to important thoughts. 



If these shining, slimy, slug-like creatures can be divested of their slime, they will 

 be found to be much like the grubs one sometimes finds eating the kernel of a hazel- 

 nut ; but on the twelfth segment of the body there is an excretory gland which 

 pours out slime, and this gets diffused all over the body, and effectuahy disguises 

 the true nature of the grub. In the photograph of the flowering stems of figwort 

 (page 289) a number of these grubs are present feeding upon the flowers and buds, but 

 are only to be distinguished from the latter here and there where the light shines upon 

 their slime. Some of them have ascended for the purpose of undergoing the change 

 to the chrysalis, and these have fashioned cocoons out of the slime. One such is 

 conspicuous in the centre of the photograph owing to the high light ui)on it, and a 

 glance at its form will lead to the detection of other cocoons not so new and glossy. 

 These cocoons are just about the same size and shape as the seed-vessels of the 

 l)lant, and as the slime dries into a i)ar(]iment-like texture there is little to distinguish 

 between seed-vessel and cocoon. 



The chrysalis stage lasts little more tlian a week ; and then a neat lid is cut 

 around the cocoon, thrown bac-k, and out walks a rather globular beetle clothed 



1 Cionus scrojihulariir. 



