Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-07-02
For the F.eemAn.
A Chat with Farmers.
BY AGRICOLA.
ABOUT NoxfoUs INSECTS.

We come now to another subdivision OF
insects which includes bugs, locusts, plant
lice, ct ceterd. These have horny beak
for snction and four wings, thick at the
base with thinner extremities that lie fiat
and cross each other on the top Of the
hack. The transformation of this class il
only partial. Many of these bugs give out
Il disagreeable odor. They live on animal
juices, and are instrumental In destroying
other noxious insects. Some are of use in
the arts, hut after all, the good they do is
nothing in comparison with the injuries
lone by the domestic kinds, and by plant
bugs, locusts, tree-hoppers, plant lice bark
ice and mealy bugs which consume the
juices of plants and require the utmost ener-
" to keep them in cheek. The fourth divi-
sion includes the dragon fly, ant lion, day fly,
white ant and other species. These have
jaws and four melted wings but are desti,
tute of stings. Their transformation is, in
some cases, complete. The noxious in
Sects in this order are the White ants. tCOod
lice and ic0od ticks which includes the
omnibus death lUatch. But even these do
not injure living plants. The dragon fly
preys upon gnats and mosquitoes for
which service we are very grateful. Ant
lions and scorpion flies indulge in preda-
ceous habits. Lace-Ninged fl es live entire.
y on plant lice, and do good service by
destroying them.
Next in order comes the butterflies and
moths. They take their food by suction
and have four scaly wings. Their trans
formation is complete in this form, they
have from four 10 ten fleshy legs. Some
domestic pests, in the form of caterpillars
devour cloth, wool, 'furs, feathers, wax,
lard, flour and the like; but generally this
species live on vegetable food. Some eat
leaves exclusively while others seek the
buds, fruit seed, bark, pith, stems and
roots Of plants.
Saw flies, ants, wasps, bees and their
kin embrace the sixth general division of
insects. These are armed with jaws, and
have four veined wings and a sting mt the
extremity of the abdomen. This class
also undergo complete transformation.
In the adult state these insects live chiefly
on honey. the pollen of flowers and the
juices of fruits. But in the Larvae state
several of them are leaf eaters and effect
much injury to plants. The larve of
one class are borers and wood eaters and
are very destructive to pines and frs.
They puncture the leaves and stems of
plants and oak apples, and nut gals are
the result. Hence we are indebted TO these
insects for gall nuts which are extensively
used in coloring and in medicine and form
the chief ingredient in ink. On the score
Of debt and credit, therefore, we must
class these insects among our benefactors.
The ichneumon fly, in the larvae state, is
IL mortal enemy to caterpillars and other
noxious insects, rs they live upon the fat
of their victims and finally destroy them.
Some five different classes of wasps arc
predaceous in their habits and supply their
young with other insects for their food.
And we should always keep an open
book account in double entry with the
ants whose food consists of animal and
vegetable juices. They are very fond of
sweets and hence are very annoying to
housekeepers, yet they destroy so
many other insects which trespass upon
our rights that they should be forgiven for
the harm they do.
Even wasps and hornets feed 10 their
young the tender paris of noxious insects
and thus compensate for the trouble they
give us when we come near their local
nabtation. The solitary and social bee
lives wholly on honey and the pollen of
flowers and feed their young on the same
material mixed and adapted to their use.
Bees do no harm, but much good in their
way