The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-05-22
CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD.
BY TOwNEND GLOVER, ENToMoLoGIsT.

As horticulturists are very apt to
clear their trees in the Spring of eggs,
cocoons, &c, of insects, imagining that
they are all injurious to vegetation, it
will be well to warn them that some
species are beneficial, by destroying in
furious insects, and their clusters of
eggs should be preserved, wherever
found Among these, a hexagonal mass
of eggs will frequently be met with,
cemented together with species of
gum or resin, which is said to be gath
cred from the tree by the female. This
insect is commonly known in MARYLAND
bv the name of devils horse, or nine
pronged wheel-bug, PR1oNoTUs cRIsTA-
TUs of Linn, or REDUvIUs NovENA-
RUS of Say. These hexagonal masses
of eggs are deposited on the bark of
trees, on fence rails, under the caves of
outbuildings, or wherever the female
chances to be at the time Of oviposi-
ton, to the number of 20 or more, each
egg, when separated from the mass,
presenting the appearance of a some
what square flask, standing on its own
bottom The Larvae, when young, are
blood-red, with black marks, and do not
resemble the adult insect, excepting
somewhat in form and habits. The
larvae, pupa, and perfect insects feed
upon all other insects they can over
come, not even sparing their own breth-
rem When very young, they destroy
great numbers of plant-lice, APHlDEs,
and when older, they prey upon cater
pillars. or indeed upon any other insect
they can overpower. They kill their
prey by inserting the proboscis into it,
and which emits most powerful poison
Gus liquid into the wound. The victim
thus pierced dies in very short time
They then leisurelv suck the juices out,
and drop the empty skin The perfect
wheel-bug is large and very singular
looking insect, Of very slow and DELHI
crate motions when undisturbed, and
stealing upon its prey. 1t is of a gray
color, and has high semicrcular ridge
or projection on the crest of its thorax,
armed with nine perfectly arranged
teeth, or cog-like protuberances, like
very short spokes or cogs of wheel
hence the vulgar name of wheel-bug.
The young shed their skins several
times before attaining their full size
As this insect is constantly employed,
from the moment it is Matched, in
searching for and destroying noxious
insects, it may be considered friend to
the horticulturist and farmer A dozen
or SO of these insects, placed near the
nest of some of those caterpillars so
destructive to our fruit and forest trees,
will destroy almost every caterpillar in
it in a short time, as they are exceed
ingly voracious, and each insect will
destroy several caterpillars daily
Great care must be taken, however,
when handling the adult insects, as they
are very apt to sting, or rather, insert
their strong curved beaks into the naked
flesh, and the poisonous fluid elected,
when the wound is inflicted, is extreme
ly powerful, and much more painful
than the sting of large wasp or hor-
net. One of these insects having stung
the writer, the pain lasted for several
hours, and was only alleviated by APP
plications of ammonia. Several DAYS
afterward, the flesh Immediately sur
rounding the puncture was so much
poisoned that it sloughed off, leaving a
small hole in the injured thumb.
agricultural Department Report for april.