The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-03-18
THE INSECTS IN WINTER
HOW THEY PREPARE FOR IT ONLY
RECENTLY UNDERSTOOD.


Creaturea-Caterpliiars Are Very sen
sitive and Tender.
The myriads OF insects which creep
and crawl around I'm the summer time,
greatly to the discomfort OF vacation.
lists at seashore and mountain. disap-
pear in the autumn Of the year. when
the leaves OF the trees begin to take on
the brilliant colors which make the
glory OF our American autumns. The
mystery Of their sudden exit from
the scenes which they have conspicu-
ously occupied during the warm
months has only in recent years been
thoroughly understood. even by sclen.
lists. Few of these creatures migrate
with the birds TO warmer climates
They either pass through another stage
of their peculiar metamorphosis or
crawl into the ground or under stones
and trees to hibernate.
The woods and fields are tenanted
in winter time with millions of crea-
lures which few know anything about.
They are sleeping away the cold
months, snugly slowed away in warm
places. Others. having laid their eggs
for future generations, retire to some
luiet nook and give up their lives.
The mosquito fingers i'm small num-
berS until the last of October's warm
weather and then dies. having depos-
tied thousands of eggs along the banks
of streams and sluggish ponds. where
they Will be Matched out by the early
spring weather. The house flies creep
into cracks and crevices, and come
forth occasionally, even I'm the middle
of winter, to flutter around; but it is
only the female fly that is thus seen.
The male dies with the coming OF cold
weather. and the female hides away
in some safe place to hibernate. She
sleeps all through the winter. except
on few warm days, when she comes
forth to exercise her wings. and when
the days Of Al new summer return She
brings forth her brood by the thou
sands.
Likewise the wasps. bees. hornets.
and similar insects of the fields and
woods have practically died with the
coming of winter; but if one goes forth
in the middle of January on exception
ally warm days he may occasionally
see bees or wasps huttering around.
These are usually the queens. which
do not die from the effect of cold
weather. If they did their whole race
would be eXterminated In them is
wrapped up the hopes and prospects
of the whole family of bees ana wasps.
Fully conscious of this. the males in
the fall of the year take good care to
tuck away the queens in some we'll
protected home under banks or trees.
where they can hibernate without fear
OF danger
Queen bees, wasps, humble bees and
yellow jackets may often be found in
old logs and trees in winter. In split
ting up rotten trees and logs in the
woods the alternating creatures are
frequently brought to light They look
for all the world like dead insects. bur
the warmth of a new season will
quickly revive them.
The great insect hosts can be di-
vided into those which perpetuate their
species 10y alternating in winter and
those which die. after having laid their
eggs in the autumn. The first class
includes most of the noxious worms.
bugs and beetles 1t is only necessary
to lift up old boards, stones and trees
on the shady side OF buildings in win
ter months TO find whole storehouse
OF these alternating creatures. In
these quiet places they sleep all winter.
practically freezing stiff. and yet not
suffering therefrom. The only danger
freezing and thawing If they hiber-
nate in some place where the sun could
reach them they would never survive
the winter. The warm sun of mid
winter would often bring them to life
again, and then a cold wave succeed
ing would freeze them stiff the second
time. Such action would quickly de
stroy their powers of resistance. and
death would soon follow.
So all insects which hibernate select
some shaded place Even the eggs
and cOcoons of insects are attached To
trees or buildings on the shady side.
where the sun cannot reach them.
They would suffer us much as the hi-
beruating creatures from the alternate
action of the sun and frost While
bugs ana beetles merely crawl under
logs. leaf mold. and stones to hibcr-
nate. the grubs and carthworms crawl
down into the earth ana hide there
below the frost line They do not
emerge from their underground home
until spring has thoroughly set i'm. its
warmth reaching down even as FAR
as their subterrancau hiding place. The
ants follow the grubs and worms. and
furnish winter quarters for themselves
and their larvae deep down i'm the
ground. But the ants frequently wake
from their sleep iu midwiutcr aud busy
themselves with their treasures. Their
larvae are placed iu the lowest gal
lerics OF their homes. and Sc is ncces-
sniy for them TO keep an eve carefully
ON these. They must be- fed and kent
warm So through the warm days of
midwnter the ants will bring their
larvae up TO the surface of the ground.
to- enjoy The warm rays of the sun. and
toward night take them back again
Co OBJ. deep galleries
The spiders are only halr hibernat
iug creatures They do sleep good
deal through the very cold weather but
they are aasily disturbed Boo their sium
beers and awaken With all off thoi
faculties awake They do NOT bury
themselves BOO tha ground cxcep dino