REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I9OO 993 



and they were to be observed crossing the walk in the morning or the 

 latter part of the night. One or two strings of them were found on 

 mornings of several successive days. These strings or masses were 12 to 

 2o inches long and with a depth of 10 to 12 larvae at the head, tapering 

 down to a small tail rarely composed of more than a single layer of 

 insects. They were seen in but one place near a well kept lawn, which 

 had been liberally manured in the spring. They kept in the shade of 

 trees and, when exposed to the sun, succumbed in two to three hours. 

 It is a pleasant duty to place on record these interesting observations so 

 willingly communicated by Mr Chamberlain. 



It is well known that S c i a r a larvae live in decaying vegetable matter, 

 and it is probable that the masses observed by Mr Chamberlain had 

 lived in the lawn and were impelled by some cause or other, possibly the 

 desire to find a more favorable place for undergoing their final trans- 

 formations, to forsake it when about full-grown. These tender, moist 

 larvae are very susceptible to sun and dryness, and their peculiar method 

 of progression reduces these perils very largely. It should be noted that 

 the head of this snakeworm, literally worm snake, had a depth of 10 or 

 12 insects, showing that these larvae were crawling over each other, and 

 hinting at the method of forming such a curious body. Such insects 

 naturally prefer to crawl over a moist surface, and a cause leading to 

 the common movement of a large number would most probably result in 

 one larva crawling over another, and an aggregation of a few would attract 

 others. Thus the natural law which leads animals in many cases to move 

 along lines of least resistance would account for the formation of these 

 masses. The direction taken in the migrations would be determined 

 largely by the primary leaders. A line once established would naturally 

 progress in the original direction unless prevented by an obstacle. These 

 assemblages are remarkable, but they can be explained as the normal 

 result of certain causes, and there is no necessity of assuming that the 

 individuals possess some unknown sense or intuition. 



These peculiar aggregations have been known in Europe for many 

 years, and there are some interesting superstitions in connection with 

 them. They are known under the names of Heer Wurm, army worm, and 

 in Norway as orme drag. Snakeworms 10 to 12 yards in length have 

 been noticed, and M. Guerin-Meneville records columns 30 yards in 

 length. The European species possessing this habit has not been deter- 

 mined positively, but it passes under the name ofSciara thomae 

 Linn, or S. militaris Now., probably the latter according to Baron 

 Osten Sacken. 



