114 



LIFE ON THE FARM. 



All forms and stages of insects are the prey of 

 predatory insects. Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, 

 fall as victims. The dragon fly has already been 



spoken of. Be- 

 ing rapid of 

 flight and con- 

 tinually on the 

 wing, large 

 numbers of 

 small -winged insects are 



THE 

 DRAGON FLY. 



taken by it, and thus the air 

 about streams and swamps is 

 less infested than it other- 

 wise would be. Beetles not only eat eggs and low 

 forms of insect life in the ground, but chase higher 

 forms over rocks and up trees. The tiger beetle is 

 very useful in this respect. Some wasps, also, kill 

 other insects. 



INSECT INTELLIGENCE. 



Although small in size, and comparatively low 

 in the scale of animal life, some of the higher orders 

 of insects display an unusual amount of intelli- 

 gence, skill and constructive ability. The ant, liv- 

 ing a social community life, shows in many ways a 

 marked degree of intelligence. The honeybee is 

 famous for constructive skill in building its 

 geometric cells; it also shows foresight in laying 

 up stores of honey for winter use. Paper wasps 

 not only produce a fair quality of paper, but also 



