438 



HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



astonishment raised, when we discover all 

 these parts arranged in the least in the same 

 regular manner ! Notwithstanding the small- 

 ness of ants, nothing hinders our preferring 



ferent forms: and on the other hand, many remarkably 

 similar moths of both these parts of the world, are devel- 

 oped from caterpillars altogether unlike. 



Insects which undergo metamorphosis are called 

 Larva, whilst in the state in which they escape from 

 the egg. They are mostly very small on their first ap- 

 pearance, so that a full grown caterpillar ot the willow 

 moth for instance, is 72,000 times heavier than when it 

 issues from the egg. On the other hand, they grow 

 with great rapidity, so that as an example, the maggot 

 of the meat-fly, at the end of twenty-four hours, is 155 

 times heavier than at its birth. Some larvae have feet, 

 as caterpillars and the grubs of chafers ; others have not, 

 as maggots : none have wings. In this state also they 

 are incapable of propagating ; they merely feed, increase, 

 and change their covering several times. 



The form into which the larva is converted is called 

 nympha. Many can move about and take food when in 

 this state. Others, on the contrary, are covered up, as 

 pupae (chrysalis, Aurelia), and pass this portion of their 

 life in a state of torpor without eating or moving. 



During the time, however, that the creature thus lies 

 insensible and torpid within its coverings, a great change 

 is going forward, by which it quits the larva-state, and 

 is enabled to leave its prison as a perfect insect (Insectum 

 declaratum, imago). Many insects finish this last por. 

 tiou of their existence in a very short time. Several, 

 when they break from the coverings of the larva-state 

 are unprovided with a mouth, and cease to eat or grow. 

 These two functions of all organized bodies they per- 

 formed while larvae; a third only remains to propa- 

 gate the species, and then to give way to their posterity 

 and perish. 



The immediate utility of insects to man, is but 

 limited ; but, on the other hand, the parts which these small 

 and unnoticed animals perform in the general economy 

 of nature, is in an equal degree varied and incalculable. 

 Some destroy numerous kinds of weeds in the bud, or 

 extirpate them when full grown. Another extremely 

 useful object is effected by many insects which feed on 

 carrion, live in dung, &c., and by that means destroy, 

 disperse and change noxious animal substances ; on the 

 one hand, obviating the infection of the air, and on the 

 other, promoting the fertilization of the earth. It is in 

 this way, for instance, that flies are so serviceable in warm 

 climates. So again, there are innumerable insects which 

 effect the impregnation of plants in a very remarkable 

 manner, as a species of Cynips is employed for the 

 artificial fructifications of the fig. Various kinds of 

 insects are used as baits for fishing. Many animals of 

 this class, as crabs and some kinds of locusts, are eatable. 

 So also is the honey of bees, from which mead is pre- 

 pared in many parts of Europe arid Africa. Silk is em- 

 ployed for clothing and many other purposes. Several 

 insects afford excellent dyes, as cochineal, &c. Galls 

 are employed for ink, wax for lights, and other pur- 

 poses. Lac, which is the product of certain Indian species 

 of coccus, is employed to make varnish, sealing-wax, &c. 

 As medicines, we have Spanish flies, wood-lice, ants 

 the oil-beetle, recommended in hydrophobia, and many 

 beetles for relieving toothache. 



Great as is the utility of insects, the injury done by 

 many is also very considerable. Many are noxious to 

 the products of the earth in general, cause scarcity, or 

 as locusts, destroy every thing in their course. Some are 

 especially injurious to corn ; others, as caterpillars, 

 grubs, &c., to garden-plant?, or fruit-trees; the various 

 species of coccus, to orange-trees in particular ; the 

 larv.T of some species of dermestes, &c. to forest trees ; 



them to the largest animals ; if we consider 

 either their unwearied diligence, their won- 

 derful strength, or their inimitable propensity 

 to labour. Their amazing love to their young 

 is still more unparalleled among the larger 

 classes. They not only daily carry them to 

 such places as may afford them food ; but if, 

 by accident, they are killed, and even cut 

 into pieces, they, with the utmost tenderness, 

 will carry them away, piecemeal, in their 

 arms. Who can show such an example 

 among the larger animals, which are dignified 

 with the title of perfect? Who can find an 

 instance in any other creature, that can come 

 in competition with this ?" 



Such is the language of a man, who, by 

 long study, become enamoured of this subject; 

 but to those who judge less partially, it will 

 be found that the insect tribe, for every reason, 

 deserve but the last and lowest rank in uni- 

 mated nature. As in mechanics the most 

 complicated machines are required to perform 

 the nicest operations, so in anatomy the noblest 

 animals are most variously and wonderfully 

 made. Of all living beings, man oilers the 

 most wonderful variety in his internal confor- 

 mation ; quadrupeds come next, and other 

 animals follow in proportion to their powers 

 or their excellencies. Insects seem, of all 

 others, the most imperfectly formed : from 

 their minuteness, the dissecting knife can go 

 but a short way in the investigation ; but one 

 thing argues an evident imperfection, which 

 is, that many of them can live a long time, 

 though deprived of those organs which are 

 necessary to life in the higher ranks of nature. 

 Many of them are furnished with lungs and a 

 heart, like nobler animals ; yet the caterpillar 

 continues to live, though its heart and lungs, 

 which is often the case, are entirely eaten 

 away. 



But it is not from their conformation alone, 

 that insects are inferior to other animals, but 

 from their instincts also. It is true that the 

 ant and the bee present us with very strik- 

 ing instances of assiduity ; but how far are 

 theirs beneath the mark of sagacity exhibited 

 in the hound or the stag ! A bee, taken from 

 the swarm, is totally helpless and inactive, 

 incapable of giving the smallest variation to 

 its instincts : it has but one single method of 

 operating, and, if put from that, it can turn to 

 no other. In the pursuits of the hound, there 

 is something like a choice ; in the labours o'f 



ants, &c. to meadows; cock-roaches, to victuals; the 

 white ants, &c. to furniture ; moths to woollen goods, 

 fur, &c. ; the larvae of many small insects, to books, 

 collections of natural history, &c. Lastly, some kinds 

 of vermin infest man, horses, sheep, fowls, other domes- 

 tic animals, and even other serviceable insects, as bees, 

 silk-worms. Others agtin, as scorpions, are formidable 

 by their venom. 



