64 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



but is now very common in many of our houses in Manchester, and in many 

 maritime cities and towns. Sometimes it occurs in myriads. They attack 

 our sugar, pastry, meat, confectionery, bread, cheese, &c, &c, communicating 

 to all they come in contact with a very disagreeable odour. They creep into 

 the substances they attack (everything eatable,) so that it requires very great 

 care to avoid eating them at our meals. I know of a bakehouse in which 

 they abounded to such an extent that the tenant was compelled to leave it, 

 and also of a confectioner's shop that was given up for a like reason. Ants 

 live in communities in which there are males, females, and neuters, but of 

 this species I have only been able to obtain neuters. I am told that any 

 place infected with these insects, may be cleared by closing the place a few 

 days, and spreading chloride of lime. 



AtropOS pulsatorius.— This common mite belongs to the order Netj- 

 eoptera. The head is large, the antennas setaceous, mandibles corneous and 

 strong, mixillary palpi salient, labial palpi indistinct and short, tarsi three 

 jointed, wings wanting. It is dirty white in colour, with the eyes and a row 

 of spots along the abdomen, brown. These insects are very destructive, and 

 are often seen running about in neglected collections of insects, birds, 

 animals, plants and in old books, in fact, on all kinds of material it is possible 

 for them to eat. Sometimes they entirely destroy valuable collections of 

 Natural History specimens. I am sorry to say that the entomological collec- 

 tion of the late Edward Hobson was entirely destroyed after his death, most 

 probably by this insect. Its specific name alludes to the noise it is supposed 

 to produce, similar to the ticking of a watch, and which is said by superstitious 

 people to portend death. 



Tinea lapetzella. — This is one of the clothes moths, a small but beauti- 

 ful species. The female deposits her ova on woollen cloth, in which the larvae 

 make galleries that conceal them altogether from sight, when at their destruc- 

 tive work. All the clothes-mothes are fond of dark places when in the larval 

 state, woollen clothes kept in the light are less subject to their attacks than 

 others. 



Tinea pellionella. — The female of this species deposits her ova on 

 woollen cloth, feathers, &c, on which the larva constructs a case of the material 

 on which they feed, which it carries about with it wherever it moves It is 

 therefore always at home, and has only to put its head out of the case when 

 it wants to feed. As it grows it enlarges this case, which is so ingeniously 

 constructed that it is overlooked. 



Tinea biselliella is a beautiful species, and as destructive as it is beauti- 

 ful. The female deposites her ova on the linings of chairs and sofas, or 



