Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-06-05
Entomology.
By Z. 5. MOONEY.

W0fic whose DOdleS are u0tcueu OF cross
cut with deep missions or lines, into Sec
tons, known in the lava state IS segments er
rings, and 10 the perfect state ~ head,
thorsx and abdomen. These parts, being
joinsed, or movable TO some degree one on
another; the young, with few exceptions,
are grups, that undergo q more or less
complete trsr sformation from the lava to
the perfect insect. They are divided into
many families ard classes. Though the
minute creatures that make up this branch
of the animal kingdom have no individual
traits to attract the observer, as in other
branches Of natural history, yet there is
much to tempt The investigator to close re-
search. Some insects attach themselves to
man in direct ratio to his adversely but the
attachment is rarely mutusl, and repun-
gsnce or fear are the most natural feelings
toward creeping things.
The ant interests us in his social ecoDo-
my, The bee in his military despotism, the
cochineal insect with his beautiful color,
while the siik-wosm rivals with his product,
the most valued animal te xtures Of COM
MERGE; and that emblem Of uncertainty,
the lively flea, is the only one OF this
myriad family that lends itself tn the re-
fining and elevstng IL tiaence of education.
Aside from these we know the insect
world chief fly by its d'pridstions, and it is
difficult TO see its chief uses in the &c oDomy
Of nature, for the birds that are insec,ivor
Gus d. stroy IS many insects tia. are them
selves insect eaters rs those which prey
wholly upon vegetation.
Ii is my purpose to briefly introduce to
your notice a few whose size, beauty. or
prominent characteristics have, no doubt,
already attracted you- attention.
The first in the order of insects are the
beetles, having wings which fold trans
versely, covered by horny cases or shells,
meeting in straight lice at the top OF the
back, and having triangular or semi circu-
lar piece called the scutal, inserted between
their upper angles Two pal. Of strong VS.
moving sideways. Their young are gruos
A. d undergo q complete transformation in
coming to maturity. One of the bSndsom-
est AID best known in this family is the
goldsmith beetle. II is nearly one inch in
length, broad oval 10 form, wing cases Of
brassy yellow. and the top of head and
thorsx cleaning like FURNISHED copper the
urder surface bronze colo. covered with a
thick furry coat of whitish hue. After
msting the msles die. The females burro W
legs. They lay about 90 eggs which are
very large for the size of the beetle. beirg
nearly one. te nth of an inch in length, of an
elongated oval form snd translucent in
appearance. In about three weeks the
larye are Matched; they are grubs Of 3 dull
While color, With yel o wish horny head F.;
feet Of the same hue; the extrem-
ity of the body lead color. The
mature lsrvs is known as the white grub.
1t lives in thu ground and feeds on the
roots of plants; and is very destructive. re-
msntnQ in the root mould near the surface
in summer and going below the frost 10
winter. Gaining its gro~th in three years,
at which time it descends about two feet
into The cath and makes by its wriggling
motions an oval cell, the walls of which ore
stlffeDed wi, gluten. and moul'ing its ekin
becomes pups. The pups case is thin,
semi-trsnspsrent film, through which may
be seen the complete form of the beetle.
the isgs, wings and sttenr not quite full
sizs In the same fall or following spring
The perfect insect bursting its thin she'll
makes its way to the surface and begins It's
rsvsges on foliage and fruit, doing almost
as much damsge in the winged state as in
the grub form. The habits of all beetles
closely resemble this; vsrying somewhat
in time of the larvsl stste snd somewhat in
the proportional voracity in the grub and
perfect insect
Another family Of native beetles are the
Elsters or sprinpipg beetles. The largest
in this group, the eyed elster is an inch
and half or more in length; black, sprink-
led with white dots; on the ,horsx are t~o
large velve,y eye-iike spots, which gives
the name to the insect; the thorsX is about
one third the lergih Of the body ard
powdered with vhilish atoms CT scales.
The wiug-csses are ridgsd with lop gitudinal
lines and the under sides OF the legs aud
body ttickly powdered with white. II is
found in its perfect state in June and july
The mature larvs atssins full size 10 May,
is about two and one half inches long,
tapering slightly towards each extremity.
The head is broad and rough. of dusky
hue; the jsws, strong curved and pointed.
The termnsl segment of the BODY is
blsckish. rouehened with small ponte
tubercles, ard having underneath s lsrge
fle by foot; furnished behind with little
claws and around the sides with short
spines. 1t has six true legs, a pair uoder
each Of the first ihree segmenis. This
beetle when placed on it's back on q fiat
surface has the power Of sprin giug strongly
itto the air, farming its body, and thus re-
clverirg lie natural position.
The next family In order are the bugs;
in which the wing-covers are thick and
opaque near the shoulders and thin s1d
more Transporter Mt at the extremities; are
laid horizontally on the top Of the back ard
cross each other obliqusly at the end the
head is more or less horiz ontal: the beak
issues from the fore part of the head and
is sbuptly bent backward beneath the
under side Of the head. An Interesting and
gro'esque member of this family of insects
is the hssvest fly, or Cicada, whose shriIl-
ing emphasizes the stiffness OF the summer
room. This insect measures about one ard
six isnths inches from the heal to the tip
of the wings. snd expands about three
inches; its cody 10 black on the upper side i;
the under side of the head. the breast and
sides Of the belly are covered with q white
substance resembling -four; the top Of the
head snd thorax eve ornamented With olive.
grs en- lines and characters, enc Of which 10
in the shape Of the letter W and 10 very
conspicuous; the front edge and principal
vein Of the vins-covers and Of the wings
are also green. This insect makes
its peculiar note by two trumpet
shaped valves placed at the base of the
thorsx, under which are thin cor
sugxted disks, pArchmens-like, that are
drawn back ard forth rapidly by means Of
hsir-like muscles, the same rs the bottom
Of q tin pan may be sounded by alternating
pressure. The pupA of sbi, insect is like .
vinsIess beetle, having strong fore claws
atd living under ground where it fee4 on
the tender roots and shoots OF grass and
trees II is nesrly allied to the seventeen
year Cicada. so called from spending that
space Of sim. in the larval state, and vary
" 2 from this speries BIZ suhasifufina dnakx