564 



AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



furnished with wings, and capable of continuing the species, and laying the eggi 

 which are to produce another generation. Witli the grasshopper and plant bug, 

 however, the eggs also arc laid, but the young emerge from them small in size, 

 certainly, but resembling the parent insect in form, and furnished with legs for 

 locomotion, but having no wings ; they then shed their skins, and rudimentary 

 wings appear. In this intermediate state they also continue to feed. Finally 

 the last skins are shed, and they come forth into the world provided with per- 

 fect wings, and able to perpetuate their species. In this description it must, 

 however, be observed that, in the intermediate or pupa state, grasshoppers and 

 plant bugs are as active as ever, and, unlike the above-mentioned insects, (beetles, 

 butterflies, bees, and flies,) continue to feed voraciously, and to destroy plants 

 with unabated vigor. It will be proper to observe here that many of the dip- 

 tera, or true two-winged flies, undergo their metamorphoses within the hardened 

 case or skin of the larva or grub. 



Some entomologists, nevertheless, have not regarded the structure of the 

 mouth in the perfect insect or image, and from which the former synopsis has 

 been made, but have classified them according to the metamorphoses or changes 

 of form they undergo before attaining the perfect state. As it would be per- 

 fectly impoissible for any person entirely unacquainted Avith their habits and 

 changes to classify them according to this method, we prefer the former arrange- 

 ment as most easy for the agriculturist, the perfect insect being almost always 

 attainable, whereas the larvre as yet have been very little studied in this country. 

 But as it may throw some light upon their habits, and occupy but a small space, 

 we shall give the classification of Burmeister according to their metamorphosis 

 or change of form which has already been explained. 



Ingects undergoing a 

 perfect metamor- 

 phosis, or change 

 of form. (Exam- 

 ple, butterfly.) 



InBectBunilergoing an 

 imperfect metamor- 

 phosis, or change 

 of form. (Exam- 

 ple, grasshopper./ 



I. Coleoptcra, (beetles) . . > 



II. Lcpidoptera, (butter- 1 

 flies.) > 



III. Hijmenoptera, (vein- 

 winged insects, bees, 

 wasps, &.C.) 



IV. Diptera, (two-wing- ! 

 ed flies.) ( 



V. Neuroptera, (net- vein 

 ed insects.) 



! 



VI. Orthoptera, (straight- 

 ^ winged insects.) 



Vn. Hemiptera, (half- 

 winged insects.)* 



Four wings of dissimilar texture : the fore wings homy 

 the hind wings membranous. 



Four wings, similar texture; wholly or only partly cov- 

 ered with fine dust, like scales. 



Four wings, similar texture ; naked, and having branch- 

 like veins running through them. 



Two wings only; naked, transparent, and in place of the 

 two hind wings, generally having on each sidp a slender 

 stalk-like appendage, terminating with a button or 

 knob-like end. 



Four wings of the same texture, with narrow-meshed net- 

 ted veins. 



Four wings of dissimilar texture : the fore wings like 

 parchment; tlie hinder pair membranous, broader, and 

 folded lengthwise. 



Four wings of di.«similar texture: the fore wings homy or 

 leathery at the base ; the hinder pair with branching 

 veins. 



Enough having been said, however, to give the young farmer some general 

 idea of the orders into which insects are divided, and their changes of form, we 

 will now proceed to the remedies proposed either to destroy them or to drive 

 them from the plants or animals they infest. The subject is one of vast im- 

 portance not only to the farmer, but likewise to the consumer, who M'ould wish 

 to have good and cheap necessaries of life. 



To give some idea of the amount of damage done by insects alone I will 

 merely cite two instances : Curtis, an English writer on the subject of farm 

 insects, states that in 1786 the turnip crop destroyed by insects in Devonshire 

 alone was valued at one hundred thousand pounds ; and Dr. Fitch, of New 



* Thi£ indudcfl also Homoptara of tho former elasgifieation. 



