THE FARMERS' CABINET, 



DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY 



Vol. f . 



Pbiladclpliia, April 1, 1S37. 



Ho, 1) 



Tlie Observer.— Mo. 4. 



Practical agriculturists might derive much 

 curious and profitable instruction, from the 

 study of those insects which injure the pro- 

 ducts of their labor. To ascertain from 

 whence the mischief comes, and how it is 

 produced, is the first step towards the disco- 

 very of the means to prevent its occurrence, 

 or to remedy its effects. Perhaps a few re- 

 marks on this subject will not be misplaced 

 in the pages of the Cabinet. 



Not being of the number of those seers 

 (see-ers) who always see whatever they wish 

 to see, I may not be able to relate the strange 

 sights which they do; — such, for instance, 

 as having seen the eggs of the wheal fly on 

 the grains ; — or having known a host of 

 weevils produced by the heating of grain in 

 a bag. These are things which I have not 

 seen, — yet 1 am free to acknowledge, that 

 they may have seen some things which I 

 have not. I shall, therefore, pursue the un- 

 fashionable method of tracing nature, in her 

 successive operations, to their final result; — 

 rather than bolt right up to the conclusion, 

 by trampling the premises under foot. This 

 appears to be the more prudent course, for if 

 it should be ultimately found, that the wheat 

 fly does not lay its eggs on the grain,— or, if 

 it should be proved that the weevil can only 

 proceed from an egg, and that egg from a 

 parent insect, I might be placed in a quan- 

 dary to discover how the eggs came to be on 

 the grain in the one case ; — or, how the heat 

 could produce the eggs in the other. It is 

 prudent to sail with caution when there are 

 breakers ahead. 



Before attempting to trace the histories of 

 particular insects, I shall make a few intro- 

 ductory remarks, for the purpose of explain- 



Vol. I.-R. 273 



THE aENERAL HABITS OF INSECTS. 



It is a singular circumstance in the hi 

 tory of the insect race, that they are deslim 

 during the transient period of their existenc 

 to appear under three very different forn 

 viz : the larva, or caterpillar; — the chrysal: 

 nymph or pupa,^ — and the perfect insect, 

 knowledge of these several stages, or forn 

 of insect life, is indispensable to an unde 

 standing of their history. 



The silk worm affords a familiar instam 

 of those great events which characterize tl 

 lives of most insects. The egg, now lyir 

 in my drawer, when the proper season t 

 rives, will produce a larva, or caterpilla 

 After feeding for a few weeks, this wor 

 will have completed its first period of exis 

 ence, and must prepare for the comii 

 chano-e. Having found a convenient corm 

 it first spins itself Hp irv a ball, or cocoon 

 silk. When its domicil is finished it 60( 

 changes to a pupa. The caterpillar, hither 

 three inches long, strips off its skin, contrac 

 into an oval form, about one-third of its forn 

 er dimensions ; the surface is now whit 

 smooth, and soft, presenting very feeble traci 

 of the included insect. The outside soc 

 changes to a yellowish brown color, b 

 comes more dry and re&isting, and the su 

 face is now figured with elevated lines, whi( 

 mark the situation of the body and limbs i 

 the more perfect animal, which is soon to 1 

 produced. In a word, the chrysalis, or puj 

 is completely formed. The pupa state coi 

 tinues from two to three weeks, when th 

 perfect insect bursts the flimsy envelop 

 which had bound it, opens a passage throug 

 its silken tenement, and appears a perfe( 

 winged insect, or molh. In this state it do( 

 not eat. It moves only in quest of its mat 

 The only passion it feels, the only care it e; 



