THE

NATURAL HISTORY

OF

INSECTS.

TWO VOLUMES,

VOL. I.

LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.

MDCCCXXIX.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. THE HIVE BEE.

QUEEN Bee-Her Treatment by her Subjects .

page 1

CHAPTER II. THE HIVE BEE.

Mode of Communication among Bees--Antipathy between rival

Queens Their Combats - Helplessness when mutilated

Senses of Bees-Manner of discovering Bees' nests practised

by American Honey-hunters

15

CHAPTER III. THE HIVE BEE.

Interior Arrangements of a Bee-hive-Structure of a Comb-Form

of the Cells-Worker-Bees--Collection of Honey–Elaboration

of Wax-Bee-bread-Cleanliness of Bees

26

CHAPTER IV. THE HIVE BEE.

Fertility of Queen Bee-Swarming—Ventilation of the Hive-Iras-

cibility-Duels-Robberies-Defences of Bees

CHAPTER V. THE HUMBLE BEE.

Builds her own Habitation-Curious Division of Labour-Remark-

able for Good-nature and Affection for her Young-Ingenuity

in overcoming Difficulties-The Carpenter-Bee-The Mason-

Bee-The Upholsterer-Bee

86

CHAPTER VI. THE COMMON WASP.

The Nest-Construction and Materials-Form of the Combs-Affec-

tion for its Young-Manner of feeding them-Solitary Wasps

-Hornets

89
CHAPTER VII. ANTS.

Their Industry-Affection for their Young-Courage-Their Anger

-Unite in myriads for War and Extermination-The Fallow

Ants—The Sanguine Ants—The Legionary Ants-Attack other

Ants, and reduce them to Slavery

101

CHAPTER VIII. TERMITES, OR WHITE ANTS.

Their Destructiveness-Clear the ground of all dead vegetable Mat-

ter-Societies composed of four sorts of Individuals—Eaten as

Food by the Indians-Appear in countless myriads at the end

of the rainy season-Prodigious fertility of the Queen-Size,

form, and interior arrangements of their Hills-Marching

Ants.

142

CHAPTER IX.

PARASITICAL INSECTS.

Cochineal Insect -- The Scarlet Colour used in

Gall Insect

Dyeing

161

CHAPTER X. APHIS, OR PLANT-LOUSE.

Every Tree, every part of a Tree, has its peculiar Species-Suck

Vegetable Juices — Shelter themselves from bad Weather in

the concave parts of Leaves.

178

CHAPTER XI.

Gnat-Bug-Flea-Chigoe-Louse-Mites and Ticks-Gad-fly .

CHAPTER XII.

Ichneumon-Fly-Its Eggs deposited in the Bodies of other Living

Insects-Deposits thirty or forty in the body of a Caterpillar

-Dragon Fly-Its Voracity-Ferocity .

215
CHAPTER XIII. THE ANT-LION.

Forms a funnel-shaped Excavation in the Sand-Uses its leg like a

Shovel to remove the Sand-Secures its Prey by Stratagem

Its Ingenuity and Perseverance in getting rid of Impediments

-Spins a Cocoon, and is transformed into a beautiful Fly

The Lion-WORM

228

CHAPTER XIV. THE SPIDER.

Its Spinning Apparatus-Its Web-The Hawk-Spider-The Gar-

den-Spider-The Water-Spider-The Hunting-Spider-Gossa-

mer-Spider-Fen-Spider-Attachment of the Spider to its

Young

239

CHAPTER XV. CATERPILLARS.

Their Singular Habits—The Grub of the Domestic Moth-Fabri.

cates a Mantle-Habits of the Field-Moth-Caddis-Worm 265

CHAPTER XVI. SOCIAL CATERPILLARS.

Move in regular Files-Form Nests lined with Silk-The “ Proces-

sionary”—The Leaf-rolling—The Leaf-bending-Leaf-mining

Caterpillar.

283

CHAPTER XVII. CHRYSALIS, OR AURELIA.

Caterpillar, when about to change into a Chrysalis, fastens itself to

a Leaf or Stem-Spins a little Web-Gets rid of its old Case-

Suspends itself by a Girth or Belt formed of Silk

312