The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-05-26
THE GIANT eoaER.
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Some Interesting and IustructIve Facts In
Entomology.
Under this head we have q variety OF
mechanical insects which apply their
Inherent skill with more certainty at
all times than their boastful superiors
the genus homo sapient Some Of these
arc provided with saws, by which
channels are cut in the bark of trees,
and the eggs are deposited therein and
covered by plastic substance. Others
perforate by two -bladed device act
ing against itself not unlike a COM
pound drill, while others perforate by
q punch-lilSc instrument by striking it
into the tender bark of shrubs by the
rapid motion of the insects; all the
grooves, holes or channels being the
recipients of eggs. But no insect in
all this class of natural history creates
when at work more interest than the
giant borer. 1t is, when not at work,
about one and three-fourths inches
long from the forehead to the tip of
its scrcw-pointed gimlet auger, the lat
ter projecting in rear of the abdomen.
Its legs are nearly an inch and half
long, and the sternum is very strong;
and from thence to the tip of the alb
domen is groove or channel, in which
the gimlet auger lies when not in use.
This gimlet auger consists of gimlet
pod, screw point and a shank which
is hinged to the sternum to swing
ninety degrees. The diameter of the
pod of the auger inspected was one
twelfth of an inch, and 1t, with its
v1<1s,1< Nf tho Cd Ia
finish, and in mechanics perfect. Its
cutting edges were SO sharp, fine
and smooth that the edge of a razor
was comparatively saw. The COM
position of the device is SO hard that a
watchmaker's file did not scratch it.
The shank was quite flexible, yet very
strong. The insect was observed to be
boring in fire-killed beech tree. The
process was to bring the auger at right
angles to the tree, while the insect
walked around the auger as central
with chips the auger was withdrawn
and the chips were removed by one
foot, and the auger was again inserted
in the hole That this can be done
without mistake the head is provided
with eyes which can see back and be-
meath the abdomen a most singular
provision by which the insect can see
to insert the auger in the hole. This
process continued until the legs of the
insect were sprawled out, still moving
round and turning the auger until a
hole about one inch in depth had been
bored. Then the insect Strengthened
out on it's legs, withdrawing the auge,
which was brought into the said
groove Six eggs, each over one-eightf
of an inch long and less in diameter
than the hole, were deposited therein
each egg being directed to its place by
two flexible appendages attached tt
the abdomen. Then, in an instant, the
insect was gone. But while Iupbraided
myself that the insect was not cap
tured, it returned with load of muc
and plastered it over the hole. At this
time the insect was caught and in
spected.
Goodrich gives no illustration, o.
description of this borer. The more
complete treatises or entomology, how
ever, show and describe this insect
| but l have been unable to learn tina
any of the more distinguished natural
lists ever saw the insect in the opera
ton of boring. The one mentioned
was the only one seen in period o
seven years in fields where dead tree
exhibited the multitudes of work dom
by this borer; it is therefore presuma
ble that the work is done mostly a
night. The grub, or worm, while sub
sisting in the woods is provided with I
resisting headplate and disc-cutte
diagonally in front of it. The hardes
wood is cut with the disc by it's havin,
given to it a partial rotary motion, ant
the process of cutting drives the chip
in between the headplate and disc, b.
which the sap is pressed out and passe
into the conveniently located moutl
of the grub. At the appointed tim
the grub knows it's way out, and be
comes, if a female, a giant borer.-G
l.. Chaplin, in Chicago Inter Ocean.