386 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Insects. 



the highest wsientifeacquiremenlg, that the assertioni 

 of Sieber as to th« non-luminosity of the Fiilgorse 

 are correct, and they ha'e tcid us that the Iiuhaiis 

 regard the story as originatini; in the mistake of 

 the White men, who, seeinjc the luminous EUters 

 glancing about like meteors, have in some unac- 

 countable manner attributed their light to the Ful- 

 gonr. perhaps because they could conceive of no 

 other use for the hollow projection of its head than 

 that of a lantern. 



The FulRora, in shrillnes of voice and general 

 manners, resembles its allies the Cicadse ; several 

 species besides the K. laternaria are natives of South 

 America, and many are natives of China, India, 

 Manilla, Java, Malacca, and Africa (Westwood on 

 the Family FulgoridsE, in ' Linn. Trans.* vol. xviii. 

 part ii. p. 133). Figs. 3690 and 3Gyi represent the 

 Fulgora laternaria. 



It is now time that we advert to a subject which 

 we have hitherto avoided, viz., the classification 

 of insects, having thought it best to defer any 

 remarkv until we had made our general observations 

 upon the class at large, as far as our limits would 

 permit ; nor shall we now enter into the various 

 arrangements proposed by different entomologists, 

 from Linnseus to those of the present day. That, in- 

 deed, of Linnajus is known to most ; his orders are 

 seven, viz., Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, 

 Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Aptera. 



In this arrangement the characters of tpe wings 

 only have been consulted ; and, on the other hand, 

 Fabricius instituted an arrangement on the varia- 

 tions of the phrts of the mouth, in which he divides 

 insects into thirteen orders. Mr. Watcrhouse, in the 

 'Penny CyclopaeJia,' gives the following system, 

 observing that it appears to him the best to express 

 the mutual affinities, and the grade of perfection of 

 the primary groups into which the present cla^s seem 

 naturally resolvable: viz. 1, Hymenoptera; 2, Cole- 

 optera; 3. Orlhoptera: 4, Neuroptera; 5, Hemi- 

 ptera; 6, Homoptera; 7, Lepidoptera; 8, Dipteia. 



Hymenoptera. — Hymenopteious insects possess 

 four wings, of a membranous character, of which 

 the anterior pair is the largest: they have all the 

 parts of the mouth well developed : the females are 

 provided with an ovipositor, in many so orB;anised 

 as to serve for a weapon of defence ; in bees and 

 wa-sps it is known as the sting. These insects un- 

 dergo a complete metamorphosis; the larvce are 

 generally destitute of legs, and the pupa; have no 

 power of locomotion. The neuration of the wings 

 in the p-rlect insect is very simple, the nervures di- 

 viding them into few cells or intervening spaces, and 

 they so nearly resemble each other in allied forms 

 that the absence of some nervures, or a difference in 

 the outline of the cells, has afforded good characters 

 for the definition of groups. The wings of an liyme- 

 nopterous insect, from Mr. Shuckard's work on 

 ' Fossorial Hymenoptera,' are represented at Figs. 

 3692 and 3693. Fig. 3692, anteiior wing, showing 

 the cells: 1, stigma; 2, radial or marginal cell ; 3, 

 first cubital cell ; 4, second cubital cell ; 5, third 

 cubital cell ; 6, fourth cubital tell ; 7, first discoidal 

 cell ; 8, second discoidal cell ; 9, third discoidal 

 cell; 10, first apical cell; 11, second apical cell; 

 12, costal cell ; 13, externo-niedial cell ; 14, interno- 

 medial cell ; 15, anal cell. Fig. 3693, anterior wing, 

 showing the nervures ; a, costal nervure ; b, post- 

 costal nervure ; c, externo-medial nervure ; d, anal 

 nervure; e, posterior margin;/, apical margin; g, 

 radial ; h, h, h, transverso-cubital ; i, i, recurrent ; j, 

 transverso-medial ; k, discoidal ; /, subdiscoidal. 



To the hymenopterous order belong the Ichneu- 

 mon-flies—bees, wasps, ants, and their allies. 



Fig. 3694 presents us with an example in Chalcis 

 clavipes, one of the family Chalcididae. This insect 

 is found on shrubs in marshy situations; it is remark- 

 able for the form of the hinder limbs, which, as in 

 some beetles (I)onacia, for instance) have the lemur 

 thickened and the tibia curved to serve as clinging 

 organs. Referring to Fig. 3094, a shows the wings 

 of Chalcis ; h the hind-leg ; and c the antennae, 

 magnified ; dis the femur and tibia of Donacia. Of 

 the Chalcididae there are about 1500 distinct species 

 natives of England. Fig. 3695 is a species of Ich- 

 neumon (Ophion luteum). 



Coleoptera — Coleopterous insects have man- 

 dibulate jaws and four wings, of which the anterior 

 pair are modified into elytra, or hard, horny, or 

 parchment-like covers for the posterior membranous 

 wings, which are the true organs of flight. The 

 elytra form by their union, when closed, a longitu- 

 dinal suture. The larvte are generally composed of 

 thirteen segments, including the head (twelve ex- 

 cluding it): the body is soft and fleshy; the mouth 

 exhibits nearly the same parts as in the perfect insect ; 

 there are three pairs of limbs, and sometimes there are 

 also pro-legs. In this order are the beetles, divided 

 into numerous tribes and families. 



Fig. 3696 represents — A, the larva of a coleopte- 

 rous insect ; a, natural size ; b, leg ; c. antenna ; d, j 

 mandible ; e, maxilla : B, pupa ; C, natuial size. ' 

 Orthoptkra. — In the order Orthoptera the wings 



are four: the superior semi-coriaceous, with numer- 

 oiu nervures in a longitudinal direction, and finely 

 reticulated. The anterior portion of the inferior 

 wings is geneially of a different substance from 

 the posterior portion ; the nervures are often more 

 crowded, and in texture and appearance it more 

 nearly resembles the anterior wings ; the posterior 

 portion is delicate and transparent, and when not 

 in use, folded like a fan. The anterior wings often 

 overlap when at rest, as in the cockroaches ; but in 

 gome, as the locust, they meet at an angle, like the 

 roof of a house. The limbs are diversely modified, 

 in some for running, in others for leaping. The 

 mouth IS mandibulate, and well developed ; meta- 

 morphosis incomplete (ametabolous). In the active 

 pupse the wings are rudimentary ; in some instances 

 the adults are wingless, and it is then difficult to dis- 

 tinguish the perfect insect from the pupa or larva. 



To the order Orthoptera belongs the earwig (For- 

 ficula), the cockroach (Blatta), the mantis and 

 Phasma tribes ; the crickets, or Gnllidse ; the locusts, 

 or Locustidae ; and the grasshoppers (Acridiidae). 



As examples of this order, Fig. 3697 represents 

 the giant cockroach (Blatta gigantea), reduced in 

 size. This is a foreign species, notorious for its vo- 

 racity ; it will attack the extremities of the dead and 

 dying. Fig. 3698 represents one of the Phasn.a or 

 spectre tribe, Phyllia foliala, or leaf-insect. This 

 extraordinary insect, one of a large family, is so leaf- 

 like in all its parts, that were numbers clinging to a 

 bush or tree, the eye would not easily distinguish 

 them. The wings, in colour, texture, and the ar- 

 rangement of the nervures, are completely folia- 

 ceous, and even the limbs look like twigs bearing 

 smaller leaves or unfolding buds. It is a native of 

 the hotter regions of South America. If some in- 

 sects resemble plants, some plants, on the contrary, 

 resemble insects ; and if the Phasma tiibe are imi- 

 tations of foliage, the Oncidium papilla, or butterfl/- 

 plant. Fig. 3699, found in Trinidad, one of the Or- 

 chidaceae, might well be mistaken for an insect ; in- 

 i deed it is very Phasma-like in its appearance. Fig. 

 [ 3700 represents the praying mantis (Mantis religi- 

 osa), of carnivorous habits, and very leaf-like in ap- 

 > pearance. " The names religiosa, precaria, sancta, 

 ! &c., have been applied to various species on account 

 of a peculiarity in their habits, that of erecting the 

 thorax at an angle with the body, and placing toge- 

 ther the large lore-legs like the hands of a person 

 when at prayer; in this position they will remain 

 perfectly motionless for hours." Their food consists 

 of flies and other insects which they watch for in 

 the attitude described, and catch with great dex- 

 ] terity by means of their fore-le^s ; the piey is held 

 by the fure-leg, the tibia being bent against the 

 femur so as to retain the captive in the grasp. The 

 opposing surfaces of these parts are covered with 

 spines, which increase the tenacity of their hold. 

 These insects are extremely ferocious, and when 

 placed together will attack and devour each other, 

 and fight with fury till the weaker or less skilful 

 falls a prey to the conqueror. They strike and parry 

 with the edge of their lore-claws, the combat re- 

 sembling that between two sabreurs. In China, the 

 children, as we are told by Barrow, take advantage 

 of the ferocious disposition of these insects, and put 

 them together in bamboo cages, for the purpose of 

 witnessing the barbarous conflict. 



The female glues her eggs upon plants, arranging 

 them symmetrically. The ametabolous larvae are 

 as savage as their j-arents, and will, in like manner, 

 tear each other to pieces, the victois feasting upon 

 the vanquished. Tlie Mantis religiosa is common 

 in Turkey, Greece, and southern Europe. From its 

 attitude it is regarded with great respect by the 

 Turks, who suppose it engaged in devotions. 



Fig. 3701 represents the Mantis gongylodes, a 

 native of India. Its habits are the same as the rest 

 of its tribe. 



Figs. 3702 and 3703 represent the locust, of which 

 there are seveial species, celebrated for their ra- 

 vages, and lor their migratory movements in num- 

 bers beyond calculation. 



We need not here repeat the often quoted ac- 

 counts, detailed by various travellers in tne East, 

 and in different partsof Africa, respecting the clouds 

 Of these insects, often so dense and extensive as to 

 obscure the sun ; nor of the devastations 1 hey commit, 

 devouring everything where they alight, and often 

 penetrating into the inmost recesses of houses, where 

 every article of vegetable food soon vanishes before 

 them. The poetical description in Joe/ (ii. 2 — 10) 

 well describes their habits, their noise, the desolate 

 wilderness they leave behind them, their voiacity, 

 and their invasion of cities and houses. Dr. Shaw, 

 who has detailed the ravages of the swarms he saw 

 in Barbary, observes that they first appeared about 

 the end of March, and increased into vast numbers in 

 April, but returned into the extensive plains in May 

 to deposit their eggs, and that the larvae made their 

 appearance in June, and were formed into compact 

 bodies, each brood covering a square furlong of 

 ground :— they marched onward in a phalanx, sur- 



mount every obstacle in their way, entering houses 

 and chambers, and desolating the gardens, undeterred 

 by the slaughter made amongst the foremost. In 

 this manner horde succeeded horde for days toge- 

 ther. In about the course of a month they arrived 

 at their full growth, and cast their pupa or nympha 

 case, and, as soon as the wings were dry and expanded, 

 mounted into the air. 



Morier, who made several observations on the 

 locust at Smyrna, in 1800, describes the larvae (of a 

 dark colour)asfirst appearing in the middle of April, 

 and blackening the fields — as being in the nympha 

 state in May — and assuming their perfect condition 

 in June. In July and August they deposit their eggs, 

 which are hatched the succeeding spring. 



Vast clouds of locusts are often seen in Tartary 

 (L. Tartarica?), and have at different times invaded 

 Poland and Russia. In Spain and Italy the North 

 African locust has not unlrequenlly committed ex- 

 tensive ravages. Barrow narrates his observation 

 on the swarms he witnessed in South Africa, 1797, 

 where the whole surface of the district he visited lor 

 an area of two thousand miles was literally covered 

 by them. 



These insects, either in their larva state, their 

 nympha state, or perfect condition, are alike the 

 scourge of the countries in which they are found, 

 and have been so, especially in the East, time ini- 

 memorial. In 1799 the whole of the country from 

 Mogador to Tangier, extending from the sea to the 

 confines of the Sahara, was covered and desolated 

 by them; a violent hurricane at last swept the 

 country, and drove them into the sea, whence they 

 were again cast ashore, and the putrid exhalations 

 of their dead bodies combined with the famine to 

 produce a dreadful plague. 



Locusts are eaten in many places — they are men- 

 tioned aa among the clean meats in Leviticus xi. 22. 

 In the plain of Bushire they are collected, dried, 

 and salted, and sold to the peasantry : when boiled 

 the yellow ones tuin red, and eat like stale shrimps. 

 The Arabs grind them into powder, which they 

 make into small round cakes, which serve when 

 bread is scarce. The same mode is practised in 

 Senegal. In the Mahratta country the common 



Seople salt and eat them. They are eaten by the 

 [ottentots ; and formed anciently part of the diet 

 of the Ethiopians and the Parihians. 



Neuuopteea. — The insects composing this order, 

 have four naked transparent wings, minutely and 

 beautifully reticulated like fine gauze. The mouth 

 is usually fitted tor mastication; the larvae have 

 six legs; their metamorjihosis is variable, but usually 

 semi-complete. The may-fly and dragon-fly aie 

 familiar examples. Fig. 3704 lepiesents the virgin 

 dragon-fly (Calepteryx virgo), a beautiful species, 

 with a rich blue body and scarlet wings. Of the 

 habits of these insects we have already given some 

 details. 



Hemipteka. — The Hemiptera have a suctorial 

 mouth, and undergo an iniperlect metamorphosis. 

 The elytra are coriaceous, softer at the extremity, 

 and folding one over the other when at rest ; the 

 beak is atia( lied to the fore-part of the head, which 

 is small, and seated on the same plane as the tlioiax; 

 the body is often flat, or even slighi ly concave above. 

 The rostrum, or proboscis i Fig. 3705;, when not in 

 use, is suddenly curved backwards, and lies close to 

 the under surface of the thorax. It consists of a 

 jointed process, a, grooved upon the upper side, and 

 in this groove are four setae, or bristles ; i, which 

 are covered at their base by another appendage ; 

 c, regarded as analogous to the upper lip, or labium. 

 In the figure the setae are seen disengaged from 

 their sheath, and the labrum is drawn a little for- 

 wards, and forms, as it were, the hp of the snout; d, 

 the base of one of the antennae. 



There are a few wingless species. 



The insects under this order are the water-scor- 

 pions (Nepa), the water-boatman (Nolonecta), the 

 bug tribe (Cimicidae), most of which are winged j 

 but one, the Cimex lectiilarius, is wingless : it is a 

 disgusting pest of the bed-room. This species is 

 represented magnified at Fig. 3706. A, the insect ; 

 B, its natural length ; C, the head ; o, the labrum ; 

 b, the proboscis; c, the base of the antennae. This 

 insect was not known in England previous to the 

 Great Fire of London, 1666, but was common on th«. 

 Continent long before that time. What may be its 

 original country it is impossible now to determine. 

 It is one of the blood-sucking insects ; but hundreds 

 and thousands live in empty houses, under the paper 

 of walls, in chinks and crannies, without the means 

 of dipping their proboscis into the skin of any per- 

 son, and the query is, how do they exist ? 



To this orOer belong the Reduviidae, the water- 

 measures (Hydrometridae), the Coreidae, and other 

 families. ' 



HoMoPTEBA. — The Homoplera forms only a scc- 



• There Is iome discordance lietween Dr. Shaw's and Monci's 

 iftatemeiils ; but probalily lucalily and tempK-rature regulate th» 

 appearance of the perfect insect, the daposiuon o the eygs. and thvif 

 time of hatchint;. 



