The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-22

place by slight network of threads, whilst
Others are suspended in delicate hammocks or
stout silken shrouds. Some caterpillars build
for themselves little winter palaces about the
size and shape of half walnut, of chips and bits
| OF bark, glued together with natural cement
which they manufacture Other chrysalids. like
Mohammods coffin, swing in mid air between
heaven and earth, suspended by delicate thread.
Mason Bees build for their babies nurseries of
| mud and small stones, Jumps of clay, and at
ter laying eggs, and leaving little pollen for
| each grub to eat when Matched, close up the en-
| trance.
Carpenter Wnsps dig galleries in timber and
| stored away for future use of the young grubs
who, after eating their FILL pass their winter in
| dormant state.
The female Humble Bee passes the winter
| quietly, doing under the moss or in the old
homes under ground. OF Hive Bees, in the au-
tumn the lazy droncs are nearly all killed off by
the workers, and the rest remain partially stupe-
fed all through the cold winter months, not en-
tirely asleep; for if any hive is examined in win
ter, many will be found wandering about in its
almost empty corridors, tasting the honey which
they prudenty stored away in the autumn for
this expected winter imprisonment
One Gall Wasp lays its eggs on the branches
of rose bushes and the result is that the branches
! swell and little spines shoot out here and there
sometimes green, at others red, until the homes
of the little ones are completely covered with
tibrous messy turfs, which are very warm, and
protect the young grubs from the cold.
Ants, contrary to general opinion, do not lay
| up any stores for winter, but are benumbed
through the whole of the cold season, although
| warm sunny days in the early spring, even be-
| fore the snow has left the ground will tempt
| them from their snug winter quarters.
Grasshoppers generally winter in the ground,
| in the cgg, although some species Are Matched
out late in the tall, and conceal themselves dur
| ing cold weather, in the stubble and dry grass
| Crickets for the most part, die on the approach
| Of cold weather, although II few survive, and
| hide themselves KINDER rocks and boards, and &C.
casionally appear. Those that live in and about
houses, are to be found all winter in various
stages Of existence, their growth FASTENED by the
heat of the fire-places which they especially
haunt.
The full grown Squash and Clinch Bugs con-
| ceal themselves when winter is near at hand, the
first named in erevicos of houses, walls, and
| fences; the latter on sundry plants, or on the
ground under dry leaves, etc The females of
the Bark-lice, after laying their eggs, die, but
remain affixed to the bark, their backs forming
roofs, the better to protect the eggs from the
| storms of winter.
Two-winged flies generally pass the winter in
bids them push open the tops of their barrel-liks
cotins and creep out. Musquitos and gnats 90
the same, although even in tho depths OF winter,
specimens can be found sporting by the frozen
edges OF quiet ponds, Weakened, it would seem,
somewhat prematurcly from the general sleep.
| have now given you a general idea of what
our insects are doing in the winter, and / hope
you will look about you when the snow is on the
ground, and all things appear dead or asleep,
and see what you can find for yourselves, and l
think your exertions VIII be well repaid, and
your curiosity satisfied by many strange and
perhaps hitherto unknown facts
If you will take cigar box, or bettor, Il soap
box, and fill it partly with fresh earth, and put
a little vegetable mold and moss on the top of
| the earth and place in the earth number of
grubs and chrysalids, putting them about as far
down below the top when you found them,
taking care to keep the moss and mold moist
and damp, not wet the heat of the house will
hasten the delivery of many beautiful and
strange insects from their queer coverings. The
top of tho box must be covered with muslin, SO
that when they come up out of the ground they
! will not fly away.-Riserstle Magazine