274 



THE FARMEKS CABINET. 



VOL. 1. 



ercisps, is, to provide itself witii a successor 

 — and, having done so, it dies. 



Tlie changes wliich I have described, are 

 called the metamorphosis or transformalion 

 of insects. All insects, however, do not un- 

 dergo the^e changes. Some of the lomgless 

 species retain through life, the form in which 

 they issue from the egg. These are com- 

 paratively few in number. Others are hatched 

 with all the parts of a perfect animal, except 

 the wings. The pupa is distinguished from 

 the larva, by mere rudiments of wings; — 

 and these become fully developed in the more 

 perfect state. Example : grasshoppers, locusts, 

 &c. Insects of this sort are said to undergo 

 a demi-metamorphosis, or half transforma- 

 tion. 



I will close this essay with a few remarks 

 on the different stages of insect life. 



LARVA OF INSECTS. 



As comparatively few insects feed their 

 young, or even lay up food for their suste- 

 nance, they are instinctively led to deposit 

 their eggs in situations, where the young 

 animals will most easily procure food suited 

 to their nature. The same instinctive care 

 leads them to seek places, where the eggs 

 will be protected against the destructive con- 

 tingencies of the changing seasons. Thus, 

 insects whose larvae feed on particular 

 plants, generally select those plants, as a de- 

 posit for their eggs. If the eggs are intended 

 to hatch the present season, they are gene- 

 rally placed on the leaves of the plant. Ex- 

 ample : the stinking bug which inhabits the 

 squash and pumpkin. Others, which are in- 

 tended to endure the winter in the egg state, 

 are placed on more permanent parts. Ex- 

 ample: the tent caterpillar, which infests our 

 fruit trees. Its eggs are deposited in a dense 

 cluster, around the extremity of a branch. 



Numerous insects pass the larva state in 

 the water. The eggs of these are deposited 

 immediately in the water, or on plants, &c. 

 along its margin. Example : the rnusrjuitoe 

 and drago7iJly. 



Carrion Jlies deposit their eggs in putrid 

 carcasses, the proper food for the maggot. 

 Yet, even instinct may be beguiled by the 

 senses. The carrion tly is often led, by the 

 smell, to deposit its eggs in decaying mush- 

 rooms; and they may even be seen collected 

 upon tlie stinking blossoms of the carrion 

 flower, (smilax herbacea.) 



The hott JJij unerringly selects such parts 

 of the horse as allow its eggs to be licked off 

 by the animal, — whoiice, they find a ready 

 passage into the stomach, where they com- 

 plete the first period of their murderous ex- 

 istence. 



Led by the same instinct, the ichneumon 

 Jiy deposits its eggs in the body of a living 



caterpillar, which, after feeding the hungry 

 parasites with its own body, falls at last, a 

 prey to their voracity. 



Many species of insects are only preserved 

 during the winter, in the egg state. 



PUPA OF INSECTS. 



The insect having completed its larva 

 state, seeks a situation to pass the next suc- 

 ceeding period, according to its peculiar na- 

 ture. Many, especially those of the moth 

 tribe, spin for themselves, a silken dormi- 

 tory. Others, as the larvoe, of butterjlics, at- 

 tach themselves to the side of a wall fence, 

 &c. and pass into the pupa state without any 

 other than their own proper covering. 



Many larvaj bury themselves in the earth, 

 where they form a cell adapted to their pur- 

 pose. In some of these, the pupa state is of 

 short continuance, — in others, it endures for 

 the winter season. Of this last, the tobacco 

 worm is an example. 



Many species are only found during the 

 winter season, in the pupa state. 



PERFECT STATE. 



The last state of in.sect existence, — the 

 state of perfection, — the only state in which 

 the being can reproduce its kind, like the 

 preceding stages, is subject to great variety 

 of duration. Some never eat in the perfect 

 state ; they only propagate and die. Others, 

 feed for a time, but seem to have no other 

 object in living, than to await the proper pe- 

 riod of reproduction. 



Many insects only survive the winter, in 

 the perfect state. 



There is, in general, much uniformity in 

 the duration of the periods and changes of all 

 the individuals of the same species. 



The egg deposited in the fall, may hatch 

 in the spring, pass its several periods during 

 summer, and in turn, lay other eggs in the 

 proper season. Example : tent caterpillar. 



The egg deposited in summer, may hatch 

 in the fall, pass the winter in the larva state, 

 perfect its changes in the spring, and deposit 

 its eggs the ensuing summer ; these hatch, 

 and the larva? remain the next winter. Ex- 

 ample : peach insect. 



An insect having passed the winter in the 

 pupa state, emerges in the spring, a perfect 

 being, — deposits its eggs wliich hatch, per- 

 fect themselves, and in the fall pass into the 

 pupa state to spend the ensuing winter. Ex- 

 ample : tobacco tvorni. 



The perfect insect may survive the win- 

 ter; lay its eggs in the spring; these hatch, 

 and pass their several changes during the 

 summer, ready to pass the siioceeding winter 

 in the perfect state. Example, jca.ip.t. 



Others, less regular in their changes, seem 

 to pay no further regard to season, than what 



