Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-21
INSECTS AS WEATHER PROPHETS.
Bees. Ants, Spiders and Other Creep
ers and Crawlers FOretel1 Weather.
From the London News.

ers and Crawlers FOretel1 Weather.
From the London News.
A great deal of our most popular weather
lore is wholly superstitious, ascribing pro-
phetic virtues to the weather Of particu-
lar days Of the week, saints days, and
even the movable feast days. Although
1t is interesting enough in it's way, that
kind of weather lore can hardly be taken
as reliable guide. 1t is from the habits
and instincts of animals, properly OBJ
served. that We can learn more weather
wisdom of the scientific sort than from
almost any other source, and of all ami
mails, insects are among the most inter-
esting to study in this connection.
Bees are excellent weather prophets.
There is a common country saying that "a
bee was never caught in a shower When
rain is impending, bees do not go far
aheld, but ply their labor in the immedi-
ate nefghborhood of their hives. This we'll
authenticated fact is set forth in the rhyme
which tells us that
When bees to distance wing their flight
Days are warm and skies bright:
But when their flight ends near their home,
stormy weather is sure to come.
Virgil was evidently aware of this bee
instinct for coming rain, and describes Gn
Georges 1V0 the insects as "searchiny
the skies to find out breeding storms
Just before rain the humming bees may be
observed entering the hive in large num-
bers, While none comes out again When
that- is observed, the observer NAV conf
IDENTIFY follow the good example and seek
shelter And, again, when bees are seen
vigorously at work very early In the morn
ing unsettled weather may be expected
later in the day; the weather instincts of
the little creatures apparently leading them
to make up time in advance
Nasps and hornets are said to have the
weather instinct over a still longer range
The banks of streams are favorite' nesting
places for these insects. If the nests in
any season are generally placed high up in
the bank 1t is always taken by country
people rs sign of wet season, the posi-
tlon or the nests being taken in order to
avoid floods When the nests are near
down to the level of the water they fore
tell dry and warm season.
Ants. too are credited with an instinct
for the weather Of whole season When
they are observed at midsummer enlarging
and building up their dwellings it is said
TO be sign of an early and cold winter.
The daily habits of the ant however WELD
number of more reliable observations at
closer than a seasons range. For instance
when ants that have been located in low
ground are observed migrating to higher
1t is sign of heavy rains. The entrances
to their underground dwellings are always
worth noticing. for an open ant hole means
clear weather and closed one means that
a storm Is approaching. 1t Is also said
ing rains of the season will come may be
told from the position Of the entrances to
ants nests. the opening being made with
the aspect that will be driest. This is also
said of wasps' nests; and, since the south
west Is our wettest quarter, 1t follows that
when many nests are found with south
west aspect the season is likely to be a
dry one.
There is a wealth of weather wisdom to
be got from observation of spiders. These
insects cannot spin properly in a high wind.
Before gale they may be observed
strengthening their webs. The shape of the
web is also a valuable indication. When
the frame lines are short and stout the in
sect's instinct has told it that wind and
rain are coming, while long and slender
frame lines are very reliable sign Of calm
and fine weather. The duration of storm
can often be foretOld by observation of
spiders. If they remain active during rain
you may be certain 1t Is only a shower and
will very soon be over. When, at the be-
ginning Of rain, they retire into complete
Incidence. the unsettled weather will al
most certainly last for some time. The
time of day at which spiders mend their
nets is also a good weather sign.
If the mending Is observed going on dur
ing q summer evening there Will be no rain
that night A curious observation but well
authenticated, Is that when spiders are
seen In large numbers crawling on walls
instead of attending to their nets, wet
Gather is impending. The same expecra-
ton follows. when they are seen falling,
In time Of drought spiders are often the
first creatures to give us a hint of a change
coming, for In a long, dry period If closely
woven and funnel-shaped webs begin to be
seen in sheltered positions about the hedges
the drought Is about to break up.
Most people have observed gnats with
view to foretelling the weather, and are
aware that, as the old "Husbandma n s
Practice puts it. 'if gnats be seen to hover
together about the beams of the sun before
ii set and fly together. making it were,
the form of pillar. it Is sure token of
fair weather" II the columns of gnats
sport up and down. ascending and descend
ing In the evening sunshine, 1t foretelis
heat The higher the swarms are observed
the more settled Is the weather likely to be-.
When, however, the swarms are seen sport
ing in the shade and under trees you may
expect rain, and IL they sting viciously you
may be quite sure of it. The excessive
chirping of crickets is another insect sign
of rain. Glow worms. too, are rain-bring-
ing. The more numerousiy and brilliantly
they shine the more likely Is wet weather:
ard ii is said that rain is certainty within
twenty-four hours If they are seen shining
after midnight instead Of shutting off their
light, as usual, an hour or two before IL.
One of the most curious beliefs about an
insect a weather prophet Is concerned
with the larva of the cicada. commonly
known as the cuckoo spit. This insect f.
froth with its head upward the summer
will be dry, If downward. wet. This Is said
to be an infallible sign. We are content to
mention the infallibility without in any way
guaranteeing 1t.
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