The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-03-13
MATERNAL CARE.
A Few Remarkable Instances of Devotion
Among Insects.

A Few Remarkable Instances of Devotion
Among Insects.
We are all familiar with the patience
and love of the brooding hen for her
flock, and how quickly when danger
threatens she gathers them under he1
protecting wings. But it seems almost
incredible that entomologists should
have discovered among tiny insects
equal instances of care and devotion.
As for example, the small, harsh ear
wig will fly around the garden till she
has selected flower for her nest, often
choosing the fragrant heart of pure
white lily. Here she deposits her eggs,
and broods over them till the wee in
sects are Matched. Then she conducts
them out upon one of the large white
petals, and nips hole, when they i'm
mediately attack the bitten portion
with their tender jaws, finding in the
juicy leaf repast well suited to their
taste.
A naturalist once broke off a flower
inhabited by one of these families, and,
although Mother Earwig could have
saved herself by immediate flight, she
never stirred from her young She al
lowed herself to be made prisoner with
them in a crystal coop, and day after
day fed her little flock with the fruit
and flowers provided for her, till they
were fully grown, and all restored to
liberty.
There is also a field bug that cares
for her large family of thirty or forty
as patiently as a hen does for her
chickens. Some insects, however, only
provide for the safety of their eggs.
Among the solitary bees there is one
called the poppy bee which exhibits
this care in most wonderful manner.
She bores hole about three inches
deep, smooth, uniform, polished and
gradually widening as it descends.
Then she cuts small oval pieces from
the scarlet field poppy, and, Selling
them between her legs, conveys them
to her nest.
With these she upholsters her cell,
spreading the pieces smooth as glass.
If any are too large she eats off the SUI
perfuous portion and carries it away.
After hanging her walls with this
beautiful tapestry in three or four lay
ers, she fills the cell with the pollen
of flowers and honey, and deposits her
egg. Then she folds down the poppy
covering and fills in the upper part
with earth.
There is another upholsterer bee that
lines her nest with rose leaves. These
she cuts into circular form as accu-
rately as with a compass. She makes
three cells, in each of which she depos-
its an egg; and it takes from nine to
twelve pieces of rose leaves to complete
each cell. AS they are finished she fills
them with conserve made of pollen
and honey, collected from the thistle
flower; this rich store beins provided
for the little grub till ready to leave its
nest.
There are two varieties of moth that
have been discovered stripping the
down from their own bodies to pro-
tect their brood against the winters
cold. The cochineal insect covers her
eggs with her own lifeless body. But
perhaps in none is the maternal trait
more marked than in species of
spider frequently found under clods of
NAiOh INV bNl CSSo III llbLIG
silken bag fastened to her body. When
the proper time arrives she makes an
opening in this bag for the young to
come forth. They run in clusters on
her back and legs, and she carries
them about with her and feeds them
till they are able to help themselves.
In one instance, to put her affection to
the test, she was thrown into the pit of
a large ant lion. He grabbed her bag
and the fastening gave away. But she
seized it with her jaws, and, refusing
to give up her treasure, suffered her.
self to be dragged down into the sand.
She was repeatedly pulled from it, yet
again renewed her hold, preferring to
die rather than forsake her offspring.
These are but few remarkable in
stances of maternal love exhibited in
the insect world, revealing by the Won
derful instinct shown in their work
and ways the guidance of Him who
adapts all His creatures to their pur-
posed end.-Mary A. Roe, IN ~ Y. Oh