224 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTiS. 



Raiella, K., but we could not ascertain what the fly 

 was. Perliaps it might bo Plcroccra homlnjhins^ Meig., 

 tvhich resembles those humble-bees that have a red 

 anus. 



The brilliant colours in which many insects are ar- 

 rayed, may decorate them with some other view than 

 that of mere ornament. They may dazzle their ene- 

 mies. The radiant blue of the upper surface of the 

 wings of a giant butterfly, abundant in Brazil {Papilio 

 Mendaus^ L.), which from its size would be a ready 

 prey for any insectivorous birds, by its splendour (which 

 I am told, when the insect is flying in the sunshine, is 

 inconceivably bright,) may produce an effect upon the 

 sight of such birds, that may give it no small chance of 

 escape. Latreille has a similar conjecture with re- 

 spect to the golden wasps {Chri/sis^ L.). These ani- 

 mals lay their eggs in the nests of such Ili/menoptera, 

 — wasps, bee-wasps (Bembex, L.), and bees, — as are 

 redoubtable for their stings; and therefore have the 

 utmost occasion for protection against these murderous 

 weapons. Amongst other defences the golden wasps 

 are adorned with the most brilliant colours, which by 

 their radiance, especially in the sunny situations fre- 

 quented by these insects, may dazzle the eyes of their 

 enemies, and enable them to effect unhurt the purpose 

 for which they were created*. 



The frightful aspect of certain insects is another 

 passive niean of defence by which they sometimes strike 

 beholders, especially children, often great insect tor- 

 mentors, with cilarni, and so escape. The terrific and 

 protended jaws of the stag-beetle (^Lncanus Cervus, L.) 



* Latreille, Annal. du Mus, 1810. 5. 



