The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-18
HABITS or PLANTS AND INSECTS.
Some Of Their Peculiarities-Taking On
New Habits-CuriouS Gases.

Some of Their Notwithstanding On
New Habits-CuriouS Gases.
We are accustomed to think Of the
habits of plants and animals as fixed, the
same to-day as they were 100 or 1000
years ago, and to remain the same for
an indefinite future. Such supposition
is incorrect, and can not be held by those
familiar with the life histories Of plants
and animals. It is common occurrence
for animals and plants to take on new
habits change usually caused by a
change in the surroundings. In the case
of animals, it is often brought about by
new food being presented, on which
they obtain more congenisl subsistence.
The common notion that nature provides
for animals the fooG most congenial to
them, finds here a strong refutation.
Every farmers boy has observed that
birds and rodents forsake their natural
food for more congenial fruit or grain.
They may also have noticed the-same
with insects.
One of the most marked instances OF
an insect thriving and rapidly multiply
ing on new food, is that Of the potato
beetle; confined to the wild solanums Of
Colorado, the potato beetle increased
slowly and was scarcely known, even to
entomologists. The insect was found
years ago by DR.. Say, who made jour
ney across the Rocky mountains, and for
many years it was considered one of the
rarest of our insects. When the culti-
waited solanum (the potato) reached COL
orado, the obscure beetle found more
congenial food, and it multiplied amaz-
ingly. An instance nearer home is that
of the apple maggot, which In many
parts of the eastern states attacks the
apple in much the same manner as the
better known apple worm G codling
moth. This insect has long been known
as living on the wild thorn apples, but
about twenty years ago it suddenly at
tackled the cultivated apples on Yer
mont farm. It spread rapidly, and is
now widely distributed. 1t is probable
that the insect had never known the
superiority of the cultivated apple as an
article Of food, until by chance some in
dividual strayed to the orchard. From
that time O new habit was taken on.
Another instance is that of the dreaded
buffalo grub"," which attacks carpets
in the eastern states. In Europe whence
this insect was introduced, it was never
known to attack carpets. LII this case
we can not determine just why the insect
has taken on its new habit, for carpets
are probably no better articles of food
than clothes and leather, on which the
insect feeds in Europe. There are per-
haps peculiar surroundings or parasites
which prevent it from attacking carpets
in its native home, or when the first
individuals reached this country carpet
may have been the first available food
presented, and the insect continued on
its new diet.
Plants often take on new habits when
they are transported TO foreign countries,
or disturbed by cultivation. The common
snowy wild touch-me-not, introduced
into England, produces only hidden or
cleistogamous flowers. An Insignificant
and harmless plant, which grows in our
ditohes and ponds, was introduced into
England about forty years ago, and at
once became great nuisance. 1t soon
spread so rapidly as completely to
obstruct waterways, and expensive
methods had to he employed to keep it in
check. This plant is the common ditch
moss or Anachalis. Some of our native
plants, instead Of being exterminated or
driven into copses and fence-rows by
cultivation, have become aggressive
weeds. A notable instance of this kind
is the horse-nettle, of the central and
southern states. This has become a
serious pest. The slender-leaved
Hilenium Of the southwestern states is
now following Texan cattle northeast
ward, and has become established in
some of the northern states. 1t is not
certainly known that the Canada thistle
was introduced into this country from
Europe. 1t appears to be wild in
northern states Canada, and it may have
taken on vagrant habit when disturbed
by cultivation.-L. H. Bailey in Country
Gentleman. {;