FOOD OF INSECTS. 391 



cieties, as the hive- and humble-bees, wasps, ants, &c. are 

 fed by the older inhabitants of the community, which also 

 frequently feed each other. Many of these last insects are 

 distinguished from the majority of their race, which live 

 from day to day and take no thought for the morrow, by 

 the circumstance of storing up food. Of those which feed 

 themselves, the larger proportion have imposed upon 

 them the task of providing for their own wants ; but the 

 tribe of Spheges, wild bees, and some others, are fur- 

 nished in the larva state by the parent insect with a sup- 

 ply of food sufficient for their consumption until they 

 have attained maturity. 



As to their time of feeding, insects may be divided into 

 three great classes : the day-feeders, the night-feeders, 

 and those which feed indifferently at all times. You 

 have been apt to think, I dare say, that when the sun's 

 warmer beams have waked the insect youth, and 



" Ten thousand forms, ten thousand different tribes, 

 People the blaze,'* 



you see before you the whole insect world. You are not 

 aware that a host as numerous shun the glare of day, and, 

 like the votaries of fashion, rise not from their couch until 

 their more vulgar brethren have retired to rest. While 

 the painted butterfly, the " fervent bees," and the quiver- 

 ing nations of flies, which sport 



" Thick in yon stream of light, a thousand ways, 

 Upward and downward thwarting and convolved," 



love to bask in the sun's brightest rays, and search for 

 their food amidst his noon-tide fervor, an immense mul- 

 titude stir not before the sober time of twilight, and eat 

 only when night has overshadowed the earth. Then 



