^4 WEEVILS. 



f they could fix a Cantharis on their hook, it proved to be a very effectual bait for fish 

 he chub seeming particularly fond of this very stimulating food. The common, 

 icdgehog has been known to eat these insects with impunity. 



THE second figure represents an insect belonging to the same family, and very common 

 n England. It popularly goes by the appropriate name of OIL BEETLE, because, when 

 landled, it has the property of pouring a yellowish oily fluid from the joints of its legs. 



As may be seen by reference to the illustration, the abdomen is extremely large 

 n proportion to the rest of the body, and the short diverging elytra descends but a very 

 ittle way below the thorax. Insects of this genus especially the males, where the 

 :lytra are longer than in the other sex are used by unprincipled druggists for the 

 mrpose of mixing with the true blister fly, which they resemble sufficiently to deceive 

 in inexperienced eye. In some parts of the world, however, they are always employed 

 n connection with the blister beetle, or even used instead of that insect. The oily 

 natter that is poured from the joints is considered in some countries to be a specific 

 or rheumatism, and is expressed from the insect for medicinal purposes. 



The Oil Beetle is represented of the natural size, and its color is dull indigo blue. 



A FEW other insects of this family are rather remarkable in their habits. One of 

 hese is the SITARIS, the larva of which is found in the nests of several of the mason 

 >ees (Anthbphora and Osmia) and the general opinon of naturalists is that they feed 

 ipon the larvae of those insects. Some, however, think that their only object in this 

 ntrusion, is to eat the provision of pollen that has been laid up for the young bee. 



IT is of course impossible in a work of so limited an extent to give more than 

 in outline of each class of animals. Before proceeding to the insects which are figured 

 n the next illustration, we will casually notice a few of the more interesting species 

 >elonging to the intermediate families. 



The MEAL-WORM, so well known to bird-fanciers as a wholesome diet for nightingales 

 .nd other birds ; to millers, for its ravages among the grain ; and to sailors, for its 

 lepredations among the biscuit, is the larva of a beetle named Tenebrio molitor, the 

 ormer word being given to it in allusion to its love of darkness, and the latter to the 

 lamage which it occasions to the miller. This is one of the maggots which have caused 

 ailors to knock the edge of a biscuit upon the table before eating it, an action which 

 n many old voyagers has become so deeply rooted a habit, that they are actually unable 



resist the movement. These larvae are terribly sharp toothed, eating their way 

 hrough the sides of casks while in search of food. Some species of the same genus 

 lave the power of ejecting an acrid fluid to the distance of more than a foot ; the one 

 nost remarkable in this respect being a Brazilian insect, Tenebrio grandis, 



WE now arrive at a vast group of beetles, embracing several thousand species, which 

 ire popularly classed under the name of Weevils, and may all be known by the peculiar 

 ihape and the very elongated snouts. Many of these creatures have their elytra covered 

 vith minute but most brilliant scales, arranged in rows, and presenting, when placed 

 mder the microscope, a spectacle almost unapproached in splendor. They are mostly 

 ilow in their movements, not quick of foot, and many being wholly wingless. 



Many of these creatures are extremely injurious to vegetables, both while growing and 

 vhen stored up in barns or granaries. Most persons are too familiar with the little 

 naggots that infest peas, and frequently ruin whole pods at a time, each pea containing 



1 single white grub. These are the larvae of the PEA WEEVIL (Bruchus pisi), which feed 

 ipon the soft substance of the pea, and make their escape just about the time when the 

 vegetable is sufficiently ripe for gathering. One of the CORN WEEVILS (Bruchus grana- 

 ius), so destructive to grain, also commits great ravages among the peas. One species 

 )f this genus inhabits the cocoa-nut, and the creatures are infinitely more abundant in 

 ropical than in temperate climates. It is thought, indeed, that several species of 

 hese destructive insects have been imported into England in cargoes of grain, and 

 inding the country suitable to their habits, have thriven here. 



