810 INSECTA. 
ferent from that upon which they subsisted when 1n the state of larve; and 
yet, notwithstanding of this, they instinctively deposit their ova upou 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 meir 
¢va on or near the plants, the leaves of which are proper for the nourisnment 
ef the caterpillar; and thus it happens that the culices, whose larve are des- 
tained 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 larve, which are totally incapable of seeking it for them- 
selves. 
Many insects seem confined to one species of food, and never vary in 
neir taste. Such are a great number of caterpillars, which feed on certain 
eaves, 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 larve of the 
epidoptera, and many of the coleoptera and hymenoptera; others suck the 
juices of the leaves and stems, as the cicada, 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 larve; 
while others prove powerful destroyers of the different species of grain. 
Even the solid matter of trees becomes the food of many larve, which perfo- 
rate the timber in all directions, reduce it to powder, and devour the parti- 
sles. A food more delicate is necessary for some insects, and this is found 
in that part of flowers termed by botanists the nectary. 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 i the 
abdomen of the aphides, caressing them till this evacuation, so necessary to 
them, is produced. 
A crowd of insects, both in the larve and periect 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 Cisteu 
