182 INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



the attack of the caterpillar of a singular species of moth 

 {Hepialus Humuli, R), known to collectors by the name 

 of the ghost, that sometimes does them considerable in- 

 jury a. — a small beetle also (Haltica coticinna) is parti- 

 cularly destructive to the tender shoots early in the year ; 

 and upon the presence or absence of Aphides, known 

 by the name of the Jli/, as in the case of peas, the crop of 

 every year depends ; so that the hop-grower is wholly 

 at the mercy of insects. They are the barometer that 

 indicates the rise and fall of his wealth. 



If the beer-drinker be thus interested in the history of 

 these animals, equally so is the drinker of tea. Indeed 

 sugar is an article so universally useful and agreeable, 

 that what concerns the cane that produces it seems to 

 concern every one. This also affords a tempting food 

 to insects. The caterpillar of a white moth, called the 

 borer, for destroying which a reward of fifty guineas is 

 offered by the Society of Arts, is in this respect a great 

 nuisance, as is an unknown species of horned beetle b . 

 An ant also (Formica analis, Latr.) makes a lodgement 

 in the interior of the sugar-cane in Guinea, and destroys 

 it. — But the creature of this class most destructive to 

 the sugar-cane, is one of the latter genus that does not 

 devour it, and is therefore improperly called Formica 

 saccharivora by Linne ; but, by making its nest for shel- 

 ter under the roots, so injures the plants that they be- 

 come unhealthy and unproductive. These insects about 

 seventy years ago appeared in such infinite hosts in the 

 island of Granada, as to put a stop to the cultivation of 

 this plant; and a reward of 20,000/. was offered to any 



a De Geer, i. 487. 



* I owe this information to Robinson Kittoe, Esq. 



