Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-05
MOUNTAIN INSECT LIFE
Tarantula Hawks and Fierce Ant
Lions
observations Of Insect Life in the
Evergreen Forests of Beautiful
Mount Shasta.

From the San Francisco Call
Sauntering through the woods and mead
ows, or along the creek and river banks,
while on a summers outing, even those
most Indifferent to entomology as a science
can hardly fail to evince a lively interest
in the various forms of insect life which
constantly come under their notice.
The following observations were made in
tho evergreen forests of beautiful Mount
Shasta, region offering many attractions
to students in all branches OF biology. Dur
ing period of nine weeks there were col
lected over eighty fine specimens of all
sorts and sizes of insects. from the lovely
silkworm moth Gas large as a small bird
| and with wings Of velvety dove color,
marked with bands and circles Of rose
pink gold and purple) to the humble pine
| weevil and the ignominious woodtick.
Thousands of bees, wasps, dragon flies
and butterflies are found on the desolate
glaciers, where they were probably blown
by windstorms, from the beds of dwarf
plants on which they were feeding near the
snow line.
| When the sun melts the icy surface in
the springtime, they are sair to float
down the mountain side with the stream
Ing waters, till they reach the rivers, where
they are snapped up by fish to the ex-
clusion of other diet, especially the bait
The remarkable pitcher plants, which
grow in thick patches in Doggy places on
! the hillsides, are responsible for the dis
appearance of myrlads of all kinds of fly
ing or creeping objects, not only bugs,
| beetles. moths butterflies, wasps, ants.
crickets. grasshoppers and spiders. but
also slugs. snails and caterpillars.
It is asserted by reliable authority that
a whole hive Of bees were found partially
| digested in the hollow, snake-like leaves
of some of the carnivorous plants, when
their owner, who had vainly sought them,
went out in the meadow to cut the grain.
The writer discovered good-sized beetle
of purest gold color in one of these living
pitchers but the work of destruction had
progressed so far that it fell to pieces
when handled.
Trnp-DOor Spider.
The spider Is not a genuine insect, be-
longing to a separate order, but 1t is pop
ularly classed in the general category. The
trap-door spider, inhabiting open sandy
places on the edge of the plains, much re-
sembles the tarantula in size and habits,
though its bite is not supposed to be dead
ly. 1t tunnels itself cylindrical nest In
the bank lining it with a swinging circu-
lar door attached by strong hinge on the
highest side. AS an extra precaution, how
ever, this lid is fashioned with two small
holes, IN which the occupant inserts his
powerful pinchers when danger threatens
the family.
Like other spiders. it preys upon flies
and similar insects. and is often killed in
Its turn by the fiery "tarantula hawk" "a
large wasp with bright blue body and
wings of a brilliant golden red), which,
buzzing noisily about in the sunshine, no
sooner spies his victim than 1t begins a
fierce attack A fight between them en-
sues the wasp endeavoring to sting from
position In the rear, the spider graphing
wildly with its fangs. But being very agile
and light of wing the aggressor usually
f1rap oed
Its ffeless opponent to hole in the ground,
it deposits an egg in its back, buries 1t
and flies off in search of more game. In
the course of time this egg matches out
into a small grub, which feeds upon the
spiders flesh until It makes it's change
and enters upon its winged existence.
One of the most familiar insects is the
dragon fly, or devils darning needle"
which fits zig-Zag fashion along the water
courses. devouring hundreds Of gnats and
mosquitoes aided in its pursuit by its large
compound eyes and ever-saping mouth. It's
life history reads like fairy tale In its
primary stages it lives for nearly a year
in the mud along the banks, and some
what resembles wingiess cricket. Like
the perfect insect, it is exceedingly yo-
racious and bloodthirsty. What may be
described as the lower lip is capable of
being protruded to the distance of nearly
an inch, and is provided at the extremity
cape on the part of the victim almost an
When not in use this instru-
| ment is folded up fat, like a carpent err 8
foot-rule.
A Portable House.
On approaching the final stage it crawls
up the stem of some aquatic plant, splits
the skin down its back, crawls gradually
out of 1t upon the branch, stretches itself.
unfolds its gorgeous wings and presently
launches forth into the sunshine, he type
of spirit freed from earthly bondage
fpfo - ot,;t,
dis fly. Every fisherman knows the curious
little worms Astounding on the rocks in mid
stream dragging their queer little houses
after Them like the hermit crab of the sea
coast These dwellings are intended to Pro-
tect 1t, but such is the greed of their finny
foes that they are often swallowed at q
gulp, house and all. The horny head and
the six short legs. which are exposed to
view when the worm is in motion, ara also
often nipped off by hungry tadpoles Their
tubular cases are marvels of neatness and
ingenuity, and are compos I'd of every avail
able material such as tiny pebbles, chips
OF bark and minerals. small sticks, straws
and fir needles, hollow grasses or twigs
and even the loosened opercuIum of pend
snail or the bright wing case of a beetle.
These bits are cemented together with a
gum of their own manufacture, and the
entrance Is often surrounded with a cir
GUAR or horseshoe-shaped dssign of tiny
white pebbles.
When about to become a pupa they spin a
|
emerge in due time nairy-wingeo flies.
much priced as bait by anglers, VINO desig-
nate them by the general name of trout
flies"
The complete Transformation of the ant
lion Is one of the marvels of insect life. In
the larval form 1t suggests an ordinary
wood louise and, being slow, clumsy and
only capable of moving in backward
direction, 1t is obliged to set its wits TO
work in order to obtain a sufficient supply
of food. So, by means OF it's broad, fla t
head, it digs funnel-shaped trap or pitfall
about three inches in depth, choosing a
sandy locality, where its labors will be as
light as possible. At the bottom of this
pit it buries itself, with only its eyes and
nippers visible, and patiently waits for its
prey.
Presently along comes some innocent ant
or ny, which tulnbles down the treacherous
feline into the very jaws of the lion,
should escape, however, be attempted,
binding showers of sand are pitched up
ward till the bewildered victim resigns it.
self to its fate. After it's juices have been
thoroughly extracted, the dry skin is tossed
out of sight, and the den is set in order for
the next conner. For two years the ant-Iion
leads this destructive existence, and then
retires from the world for a period of two
months. when it comes forth a totally diff
ferent creature. both in habits and ap-
ha