, 1886-02-18
HABITS OF PLANTS AND INSECTS.


New Habits-turious Eases
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 n ~supposition
Is incorrect. and can not be held by those
familiar with the life histories Of plants
and animals. 1t is n common occurrence
for animals and plants TO take on new
habits-a 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 %congenial subsistence.
The common notion that nature provides
for animals the food most congenial to
them, finds here n strong ~refutation.
Every farmers boy has observed that
birds and rodents forsake their natural
food for more c%ongenial 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 wa found
years ago by DIR. Say, who made n jour
ney across the Rocky mountains, and for
many years IL was considered one OF the
rarest Of our insects. When the culti-
waited solanum 1.-THE Potato) reached Col
orado. the obscure beetle found more
congenial food, and il multiplied amaz-
tnuly An instance hAr.. IL that
Of the apple maggot, which in many
parts OF the eastern states attacks the
apple in much the same as the
better known apple worm or 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 a Yer
mont farm. 1t spread rapidly, and is
now widely distributed. IL 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 a 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, il was never
known to attack carpets. In 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 il from attacking carpets
in its native home, or when the first
individuals reached this country a 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
bitches and ponds, was introduced into
England about forty years ago, and at
nee became a great nuisance. II Dol
spread 10 rapidly as completely to
obstnnct waterways, N expensive
methods had TO be employed to keep it in
check. This plant is the common ditch
moss or Anacharis. Some Of our native
plants, instead Of being exterminnted or
driven into copses and fence-rows by
cultivation, have become aggressive
weeds. A notable instance Of this kind
is the h~orse-nettle, Of the central and
southern states. This has become a
serious pest. The slender-leaved
IIilenium 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 hat the Canada thistle
was introduced into this country from
Europe. 1t appears TO be wild in
northern states Canada, and il may have
taken on a vagrant habit when disturbed
by cultivation.-L ii. Bailey in Country
Gentleman.