488 



BLISTERING LYTTA, OR SPANISH FLY. 



be seen to proceed from its extremity. The insect may at any time 



be made to play off its artillery, by 

 scratching its back with a needle. I? 

 we may believe Rolander, who first 

 made these observations, it can give 

 twenty discharges successively. A 

 bladder placed near its posterior ex- 

 tremity, is the arsenal that contains 

 its store. This is its chief defence 

 against its enemies; and the vapor 

 or liquid that proceeds from it ia 

 of so pungent a nature, that if it 

 happen to be discharged into the 

 eyes, it makes them smart as though 

 brandy had been thrown into them. 

 The principal enemy of the Bombar- 

 dier is another insect of the same 

 tribe, but three or four times its size. 

 When pursued and fatigued, the 

 Bombardier has recourse to this strat- 

 agem : he lies down in the path of 

 his enemy, who advances with open 

 mouth to seiae him : but, on the dis- 

 charge of the artillery, the enemy 

 suddenly draws back, and remains 

 for awhile confused, during which 



the Bombardier conceals himself in some neighboring ere vice; but, if 



not lucky enough to find one, the other returns to the attack, takes 



the insect by the head, and tears it oft'. 



OF THE LYTTA TRIBE. 



THE antennae of the Lyttae are of equal thickness throughout; the 

 feelers are four in number, unequal in size, and the hind ones are 

 elavate. The thorax is roundish: the head inflected and gibbous. 

 The shells are soft, flexile, and as long as the abdomen. 



THE BLISTERING LYTTA, OB SPANISH-FLY. 



in the south of France, in Spain, and in Italy, these insects are 



found in great abundance 

 about the time of the summer 

 solstice. They feed on the 

 leaves of trees and shrubs, 

 particularly on those of the 

 privet, lilac, woodbine, elder, 

 poplar, and ash. On the last 

 named trees the^y are some- 

 times seen in such swarms, as, 



VHI BLUrtSRINO LTTTA. 



