HOW TO KNOW THE INSECTS 



By JOHN J. WARD 



Author of "Some Nature Biographies," "Peeps into Nature's Ways," etc. 

 Illustrated from Original Photographs by the Author 



PROTECTIVE MIMICRY 



WITH the increasing host of insects, 

 there is always a corresponding 

 increase amongst their enemies. 

 On this account, insects that appear late 

 in the season run 

 greater risks than 

 those which make 

 their advent earlier, 

 for there are many 

 3'oung mouths to fill 

 as the season ad- 

 vances. Insectivor- 

 ous birds and other 

 animals are ever on 

 the alert for anything 

 that moves amidst 

 the grass, leaves, or 

 branches, but the 

 insects themselves 

 show no such activity 

 in eluding their foes. 

 Many of the largest 

 and most handsome 

 species make not the 

 least attempt to es- 

 cape should the 

 enemy approach. It 

 is well, indeed, that 

 they do not. for any 

 active endeavour to 

 escaj^e would mean 

 their sure destruc- 

 tion. Strange as it 

 may seem, their 

 chanre of hfe often 

 entirely depends 

 upon their remaining 

 quite still and thus 

 a nega- 

 front to 



I propose, in tliis jiaper. to deal with 

 a few of the numerous examples wliich 

 illustrate how insects hide to protect 

 themselves from their enemies. Those 



piesenting 

 lively bold 

 the enemy. 



TWO GREEN-VEINKD WIUli: lU 11 IKI I.IHS ON THE FAMILIAR GREEN 

 AND WHITK SIKlI'l-.U KIBBON GRASS. 

 21 I 



