INSECT ACTORS 125 



life make tubes from vegetable substances much 

 in the same way as the Psyches. One species 

 with the long name of Coleopkora juncicolella uses 

 heath leaves, which it joins together two by two 

 to form cups, each cup overlapping the next in 

 symmetrical order. 



When the common marjoram is going out of 

 bloom several calyxes may often be found joined 

 together lengthways, one fitting over the other. 

 This is the work of Gelechia subocella, an insect 

 of a decidedly economical turn of mind that feeds 

 on the seeds of the plant, and then uses the 

 empty calyxes as a covering. As soon as the 

 contents of one flower is finished the Gelechia 

 bites it off and adds it to its collection until 

 quite a long string has been formed, and the 

 insect's pale, brown head may be seen protruding 

 from its flowery case as it moves cautiously from 

 one blossom to another. Another member of 

 the same family resides on the sandhills near 

 the sea coast, feeding on the roots and leaves of 

 the cemstium, and constructs a home of particles 

 of sand fastened together with silk. This insect 

 is partly subterranean in its habits and leaves 

 its case to burrow in the ground, but it always 

 provides itself with a tube in which to retreat 

 when it is above the surface. 



One of the most interesting of the insects 

 that adorn themselves is a rare species of 

 Geometer inhabiting Borneo. It decks itself 

 with the tiny buds of the plant on which it 

 feeds, fastening them to the long spines it bears 

 on its back so that it becomes quite covered with 

 them, and looks exactly like a little spray of 



