36 ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD CHAP. 



outer bark ; the elm-tree beetle (Scolytus) burrows 

 mainly in the inner and softer layers, the goat-moth 

 caterpillar penetrates to the living wood, and others, 

 as the beetle that infests the pine, bore into the central 

 pith of young shoots, doing incalculable injury to 

 pine plantations. To turn to those whose preference 

 is for leaves and leaf-blades, the plant-lice, or aphides 

 as they are called, imbibe alone the juice or sap ; a 

 large number of the young of tiny beetles, flies, and 

 moths taste solely the cellular substance, or par- 

 enchyma,* disdaining the tough skin or cuticle as 

 being much too gross for their delicate appetites ; at 

 times only the lower surface of leaves is eaten ; while 

 caterpillars as a rule are far from dainty, and de- 

 molish leaves whole and entire. With respect to 

 insects addicted to flowers, the earwigs and thrips, 

 for example, choose the beautiful coloured petals ; 

 some select the pollen; and an innumerable host 

 moths and butterflies, bees, ants, flies, and many 

 more make any effort to obtain the honey, that 

 especial delicacy secreted in the nectaries. The 

 Death's Head Moth is excessively fond of it, and enters 

 the hives of bees, knowing in some astonishing way 

 that honey is to be had there. Oddly enough, the bees 

 do not rush upon the intruder and thief, but use every 

 artifice in their power to exclude it, or to wall it up. 



Nor are insects restricted to vegetables in their fresh 

 or unmanufactured state. They will secure their 

 livelihood from a piece of furniture, or from the wood- 

 work of buildings hundreds of years of age ; they 

 even feast upon what one would imagine had surely 

 been robbed of all sweetness and succulence the 



