810 INSECTA. 



ferent from that upon which they subsisted when in the state of larvae ; and 

 yet, notwithstanding of this, they instinctively deposit their ova upon the 

 peculiar matters necessary for the food of the young. Thus the lepidoptera, 

 which in the perfect state, suck the honey of flowers, never fail to place their 

 ova on or near the plants, the leaves of which are proper for the nourishment 

 of the caterpillar; and thus it happens that the culices, whose larvae are des- 

 tined to live and find their subsistence in water, drop their ova on its surface. 

 Among the insects which live in society, there are some, as the bees, 

 which are under the necessity of making choice of a dwelling for the pur- 

 pose of storing up a supply of provisions for unfavorable seasons, which 

 would prevent the acquisition of a daily supply. Others, such as the ants, 

 unite and work in common, to procure not only their own subsistence, but 

 food for their larvae, which are totally incapable of seeking it for them- 

 selves. 



Many insects seem confined to one species of food, and never vary in 

 their taste. Such are a great number of caterpillars, which feed on certain 

 leaves, and if these fail, they die. The herbivorous insects besides, eat often, 

 and almost continually ; while those living on prey, like the carnivorous 

 animals of the higher classes, are capable of considerable abstinence. Certain 

 species of insects subsist on the leaves of trees, such as the larvae of the 

 lepidoptera, and many of the coleoptera and hymenoptera ; others suck the 

 juices of the leaves and stems, as the cicadae, and the aphides ; some feed 

 on the vegetable excrescences, named galls, and many on the buds of trees. 

 Fruits of all kinds are the subsistence of many insects and their larvae ; 

 while others prove powerful destroyers of the different species of grain. 

 Even the solid matter of trees becomes the food of many larva;, which perfo- 

 rate the timber in all directions, reduce it to powder, and devour the parti- 

 cles. A food more delicate is necessary for some insects, and this is found 

 in that part of flowers termed by botanists the nectartj. From these necta- 

 ries the bees collect the fluid, which, after having undergone some prepara- 

 tion in their bodies, forms the substance termed honey ; and the ants seek 

 with avidity the saccharine fluid which is exuded from openings in the 

 abdomen of the aphides, caressing them till this evacuation, so necessary to 

 them, is produced. 



A crowd of insects, both in the larvae and perfect state, are found in the 

 dung of animals; and dead animal matter of all kinds, particularly that of 

 quadrupeds, birds and fishes is equally sought after by numerous species. 

 The flesh-fly is well known to deposit its ova in butcher's meat exposed; 

 and the feeding of these minute animals within the meat, accelerates putre- 

 faction and dissolution. Even the dried flesh of animals, and their skins 

 preserved in museums, are the prey of small coleoptera of the genera 

 Dermestes, Ptinus, &c. ; and these minute animals likewise destroy the most 

 valuable furs. Other insects attack living animals, and feed on their solid 

 and fluid parts. One larva in particular, belonging to the genus CEstrus, 



