MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS. 



203 



twist lifts the anterior part of its body, and emits from its 

 mouth a drop of clear resin, perfectly similar both in odour 

 and consistence to that of the fir. 1 What is still more re- 

 markable, no sooner does a single individual of the group give 

 itself this motion, than all the rest, as if they were moved by 

 a spring, instantaneously do the same. 2 Thus these animals 

 fire a volley, as it were, at their annoyers, the scent of which 

 is probably sufficient to discomfit any ichneumons, flies, or 

 predaceous beetles that may be desirous of attacking them. 



Amongst those which annoy their enemies by the emission 

 of fluids from their anus are the larger Carabi. These, if 

 roughly handled, will spirt to a considerable distance an acrid, 

 caustic, stinking liquor, which if it touch the eyes or the 

 lips occasions considerable pain. 3 — The rose-scented Capricorn 

 (Cerambyx moschatus) produced a similar effect upon Mr. 

 Sheppard by similar means. The fluid in this had a powerful 

 odour of musk. — The acid of ants has long been celebrated, 

 and is one of their most powerful means of defence. When 

 the species that have no sting make a wound with their jaws, 

 they insinuate into it some of this acid, the effluvia produced 

 by which are so subtile and penetrating, that it is impossible 

 to hold your head near the nest of the hill-ant (Formica ruf a), 

 when the ants are much disturbed, without being almost suf- 

 focated. This odour thus proceeding from myriads of ants 

 is powerful enough, it is said, to kill a frog, and is probably 

 the means of securing the nest from the attack of many ene- 

 mies. — Dr. Arnold observed a species of bug (Scutellerd) 

 abundant upon some polygamous plants which he could not 

 determine, and in all their different states. They were at- 

 tended closely by hosts of ants, and when disturbed emitted 

 a very strong smell. One of these insects ejected a minute 

 drop of fluid into one of his eyes, which occasioned for some 

 hours considerable pain and inflammation. In the evening, 

 however, they appeared to subside; but on the following 

 morning the inflammation was renewed, became worse than 

 ever, and lasted for three days. 



i De Geer, ii. 971. 



°- I owe the knowledge of this circumstance to Mr. MacLeay. 

 3 De Geer, iv. 86. Geoffr. i. 141. 



