Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-07-16
For the Freeman.
A Chat with Farmers.
BY AGRICoLA.
ABOUT NoxIoUs INSECTS.

The flea tribe has been placed among
the hugs. by our writers. at least. By
what authority we are not prepared TO say
We know that they have no wings, ant
hence they are not birds. In the place Of
wings there are four little scales presse
closely to the sides of their bodies. The
mouth is fitted for suction and is armed
with several lancet-like pieces for making
punctures, as many mortal knows
These insects undergo IA complete trans
formation. In the larvae state they are
worm-like and have no feet; but at the
next stage the legs are free. There are
many different kinds of lleas, though we
see no good reason why they should have
been created at all
Ear-wigs seem to be related to two diff
rent orders. Then we have the spider
lly, the bird-ffy, the sheep-tick and the
| May-fly, which are defined by technical
names that cannot be understood by youl
readers who have not made this sub
Jet Il special study. Some of them feed
On the spider and the bird, and one, GER
Jainly, lives on mutton and among the
fine wool Of the flock.
Many persons are repealed from the
study of natural history by the formidable
array of scientific names and terms which
we have attempted ia these papers, as far
rs possible, to shun. In treating of ento
mology, however, we find it very difficult
to avoid such terms, as the various kind,
Of insects very far outnumber the species
If every class of the animal, vegetable
and mineral Kingdoms. 1t would be i'm
possible to give them all common names
The scientific names are ineligible tt
scientific men in all parts of the world
while the common names are very limited
IN their application and use.
We know q certain insect in this coun-
try by the name Of aOeerGt, and yet when
we come to examine the subject we find
the name applied to six different kinds,
two moths. two flies and two beetles. In.
deed, there are nearly four thousand
species of weevis. Who could distinguish
al these species by a separate name with
my satisfaction BY the use of scientific
names all these weevils are arranged
under three hundred and fifty-fve sur.
names, requiring but II few additions
words to indicate the various species. The
single NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a
once the whole tribe Of butterflies, hawk
moths and milers, and all insects having
Nrawny scales and Il spiral tongue, ant
whose Young are in the form of caterpil
Htrs. No English word that would an
Swer the same purpose could be used
Still we prefer to be unscentific in treat
ing this subject, rather than TO use Ian
guage that our common readers canno
understand.
We will now call attention again to the
beetle tribe. At the head of this order i
placed the most robust and largest ANNA
Of the beetle tribes, peculiar in shape, hav
ing formidable horns like prominences OF
the head. These are very destructive il
their attacks on vegetables. Their numbe
is immense and they differ not only in theil
structure but also in their habits. The,
IRE all known by their movable horns
Another feature by which they are dislin
guished from each other is the projecting
ridge Of the forehead which extends owe
the face. The forc,legs of these beetle
IRE fitted for digging. This exten>iv,
family of insects is divided into severa
groups distinguished by peculiarities o
structure and habits Those that live upor
nr beneath 1.-The earth are called ground
beetles. Some live on trees whose leaves
hey devour. These are called tree
beetles. Still others, frequent flowers anc
ire called tlower-beetles. The ground
beetles, including the earth borers anc
lrug-beetles, inhahit excrement; the skin
beetle lives on dried animal substances
md the HerculeS-beetle occupies rotter
wood. These are less destructive thar
some of the kinds and may be passct
over without further notice.