Daily globe., 1883-07-26
THE SENSES OF INSECTS.
Their Susceptibility to Coming Atn.0s
pheric Changes.

Their Susceptibility to Coming Atn,os-
pheric Changes.
A writer in the NeiU Orleans Times DEM
ocrat on the senses of insects says there
is good reason to believe that they posses
all the ordinary senses of man. Lime
thought them deprived of hearing; but
numerous observations prove the contrary.
That they bear even in their larva state is
evident from facts stated not only by emil
nent Psychologists, but by numerous OBJ
servations made by myself. I found once
that the sound of my voice evidently
affected some caterpillars, which
attribute to the delicacy of
their sense of touch; at another time, when
some caterpillars of a different species
were moving swiftly, rang small bell,
upon which they instantly stopped and
moved the interior part of their bodies
very briskly. That they possess this facuI-
ty in their image state is confirmed still
more strongly by facts. once was OBJ
serving the motions of snout-beetle (cur-
culio), whose Larvae devoured the roots of
our palmetto, upon my making a slight
but distinct noise, It's antenn8 started.
repeated the noise several times, and in
variably with the same effect. A ground
beetle of considerable size, hunting some
caterpillars round the trunk of live oaktree
in the old City park, answered the sound in
the same manner repeatedly. Flies.
have observed, at brisk and distinct sounds.
move all their legs, and spiders will quit
their prey and retire to their hiding places.
Insects that live in society give notice of
intended movements, or assemble their
citizens for emigration by certain hum.
But the most satisfactory proof of hearing
of these animals is to be had from the
grasshoppers, cricket:, etc., and cicadas
whose males are vocal. I kept and fed
several katydids in a cabinet, which were
very merry and continued singing all the
time, but rap at the door would stop them
instantly. By practice l learned to imi-
tate their chirping ; when I did this
at the door at first few would
answer me in low note, and then
the whole party would take up the tune and
sing with all their might. once shut up
a male in the garden, and gave the female
her liberty; but as soon as she heard the
male chirp she few to him Immediately.
The antenna of insects are analogous to
ears in vertebrates. Their number CORE
spends; they also stand out from the head;
and what has weighed most with me, unless
they are allowed as such no other organ
can have any pretension to be considered
as presenting the ear. If we reflect that
in every other part and organ the head of
insects have an analogy to that of NAM
malta, we must regard it as improbable
that these prominent organs should not
also have their representative. Admitting,
then, that they are the analogues of ears, it
will follow their primary function is re-
lated to hearing.
But besides receiving notices from the
atmosphere of sound, and of the approach,
or proximity of other insects, ETC., the an
tenna are probably the organs by which
insects can discover alterations in its
state, and foretell by certain prognostics
when change of weather is approaching.
Bees possess this faculty to an admirable
degree. When engaged in their daily
labors, if shower is approaching, though
we can discern DO signs of it, they foresee
it and return sUddedly to their hives. If
they wander far from home and do not re-
tu1n until late in the evening, it is prog
nostic to be depended upon the following
day will be fine; but if they re-
main near their habitations, and
are seen frequently going and
returning, although no other indication of
wet should be 6iscoverable, clouds will
soon arise and rain come on. Ants also
are observed to be excellently gifted in
this respect; though they daily bring out
their Larvae to sun them, they are never
overtaken by sudden showers. Previously
to rain, as you we'll know, numberless in
sects seek the house; then the stomoxys
calcitrans, leaving more ignoble prey, at
tack us in our apartments, and interrupt
our studies and meditations.
The insects of prey also foresee the
approach of wet weather, and the access
of flies, etc., to places Of shelter. Then
the spiders issue from their lurking :
places, and the ground-beetles or caribi in
the evening run about our cottages.
Passive antnna whichare usuallyfurnised
with terminal or lateral bristal, and plu-
NOSE and pertinated ones, seem calculated
for the electric and other fluids dispensed
in the atmosphere, which in certain states
and proportions may certainly indicate
the approach of a tempest or of showers,
or of rainy seasons, and may so affect
these organs as to enable the insect to
make sure prognostic of any approach
ing change, and we know of no other Or
gan that is so likely to have this power. I
say electric fluids because, when the at
mosphere is in highly electrified state
and tempest is approaching is the time
when insects are usually most abundant
in the air, especially toward the evening,
and many species may then be taken
which are not at other times to be met
with; but before the storm comes on all
disappear, andyou willscarcely see single
! individual on the wing. This seems to in
dicate that insects are particularly excited
by electricity.