148 



Observations on Insects. 



Vol. IL 



certain benefit or injury. I bring this mailer 

 before you in order to induce a jiroper exami- 

 nation of those insects that are so detrimental 

 to the agricultural interests: for when we 

 ascertain the parent, manner and place of de- 

 positing the progeny, and general habits ot 

 insects, it is no difficult task to destroy, or so 

 cripple them as to render them harmless to 

 our crops; and I know of no way in which 

 we can be more useful to our fellow beings, 

 and better promote our own interests (in a 

 pecuniary point of view,) tiian to remove such 

 pests. But it is said that man is to govern, 

 and not to destroy any part of the animal cre- 

 ation, further than his immediate necessities 

 require. I would havn subscribed to this doc- 

 trine in the first state of things, for then all 

 were rightly balanced; there was a perfect 

 adjustment of every part, and therefore each 

 species he'd its proper rank in the >'reat scale 

 of creation; but how do maUers now standi 

 It would require volumes to explain them 

 fully, and would be deemed preposterous in 

 me to make the attempt, biii allow me to 

 make a few remarks as regards the insect 

 tribe. It must be obvious to every man of ob- 

 servation, that many species of insects have 

 increased to an alarmintr extent, and unless 

 timely checked, I verily believe that they 

 will be the means of producing a famine in 

 our land, and we know not how soon that 

 dreadful event may take place; already we 

 see our fruit and forest trees declining — our| 

 wheat crops nearly cut off, corn very uncer-! 

 tain, clover is failing, timothy afti^'cted, and! 

 even that hardy plant commonly called bnck-i 

 horn, has not escaped, and our other crops vvilli 

 probably, in turn share the same fate. Look at 

 the immense damage sustained the presentl 

 season. If a fellow creature takes from us a| 

 single bushel of grain, we pursue him to the' 

 Btmost rigor of the law, and yet, oh! shame-; 

 ful to relate, we suft(?r this lower grade of ani- 

 mals to rob us of a great portion of our store. 

 This thing has come upon us in consequence! 

 of our wanton destruction of the feathered | 

 tribe, which is that link in creation that seems , 

 intended to keep the insect race within pro- 

 per bounds, and we are left to do a work! 

 which the birds would have done for us; or, 

 rather, v^e are now suffering an evil that: 

 would never have happened to us. Then let 

 us at once reform, by reversing our course of 

 action. — The insect tribe has got the ascend- 

 ancy by man's misconduct, and it devolves 

 upon the present generation to restore the 

 equilibrium. The increase of birds will great- 

 ly assist in the work, and I earnestly entreat 

 that some immediate measures may be taken 

 for their preservation. I do think that if every 

 member of the society would absolutely pro- 

 hibit gunning on his lands, it would have a 

 good effect in discouraging a practice that, to 



say the least of it, is disgraceful to our na- 

 ture. I rejoice to learn that in some parts of 

 our country, the landholders have associated 

 for that express purpose, and I understand 

 that an association of that kind exists in 

 Montfiomery County, not far from the city of 

 Philadelphia, where the inhabitants were al- 

 most as much annoyed by the gunners as by 

 insects: much good has been produced. JS'ow 

 I trust that our society will not be behind 

 hand in this praise- worthy business; and as 

 it will not be entered upon ihrouah ill-nature, 

 or with a view to lessen the enjoyments of 

 ■•ny one, but as indispensably necessary for 

 the presprvation of our crops, in which the 

 whole community are deeply interested, sure- 

 ly no man will be found so lott to a sense of 

 duty and the dignity of his nature, as to op- 

 pose such salutary measures. 



Do we not remember how the blackbirds 

 formerly followed the plough in t-earch of 

 grubs] Alas! that faithful bird has almost 

 disappeared. The woodpecker and other 

 kinds, so dilinent in guarding our fruit trees, 

 are now scarci ly to be seen; the little wren, 

 so industrious about our houses and gardens, 

 deserves our peculiar care; even the de- 

 spised hawk, I have observed to be eminent- 

 ly useful in destroying field mice; indeed, 

 almost every species claim our regard. 



1 would further recommend to the notice 

 of the society, the common toad, as I am in- 

 clined to believe that it is very destructive to 

 night insects. Snakes are also useful in feed- 

 ing upon the vermin of our fields, and there- 

 fore such kinds as are harmless ought to be 

 protected. I might also mention the ground 

 mole. 



1 will now call the attention of the society 

 to the following insects, to "wit : 



The Hessian fly, so destructive to our 

 wheat crops. 



A little worm found in the lower part of 

 the stalks of wheat and rye, in spring and 

 fall, and about the joints in June. 



A worm in the straw above the upper joint, 

 which causes the early change of color of the 

 ear, assuming a ripe appearance, but produc- 

 ing no grain. 



A species of louse or aphis, that infest 

 grounds and feed upon the roots of wheat, 

 corn, young trees, &c. and do immense dam- 

 age. 



A species of louse that feed upon cabbage, 

 young leaves of peach trees, &c. 



Worm that attacks the roots or lower part 

 of the trunk of peach trees. 



The white grub that infests our grounds in 

 great abundance. 



Cut worm or black grub, that harbors in 

 the ground and cuts off" the young plants ear- 

 ly in the season. There is another black 

 grub that appears later, at the roots. 



