The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1914-10-23
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oST people believe that al In
I'M sscts are very small; and IN
q certain sense this ID true.
= 2 for the largest known insect
appears diminutive when con-
trasted with the vast bulk Of such
creature - whale or m elephant. But
this ID hardly . fair comparison. Do
canse insects are In every way dis
similar to vertebrate animals. havins
developed along entirely different
lines. In place Of physical hugeness
We md amazing delicacy Of structure
and adjustment: and II We liksn the
vertebrate to locomotive engine. the
snsect must be represented by . ladys
watch to complete the metaphor. In
nns, multum In parvo has been tho
watchword Of insect evolution. Never.
sheless. whom Judged In their own
sphere. insects display remarkable
range Of sire.
Take, for example, the beetles. The
largest living Representatives Of the
clan are the Goliaths Of Africa and the
Nsgasomas Of tropical South America
A fair-sised male specimen Of the lat.
tsr measures four and . half inches
from the tip OF the horn to the ex.
tssmity Of the abdomen. The male Of
eAe Hercules beetle. also OF South
America, may be two inches or more
loager. but wellnish half III length
= made mp by the great hornlike proc
- which springs from it, thorax. 4
God idea Of these beetles huge pro
portions may be gained BY placing
ooe Of them side by side with . com
nou tvo-spot ladybird. Yet the iaoy'
hird 10 BY no means small beetle %
beetles 90.
Comparisons NO lees striking may
- naAe among the moths. TIE
largest British moth ID the "Deashs
fseaA~-a truly noble insect with 2
wing sxpanss Of four and halt
sachss. But it, proportions are sadly
Awarfed when We contrast them with
the huge Owl moth--the Noctus strtx
q scisnce- (which 10 not uncommon In
many parts Of South America u
uay measure ten inches or more
across. Then there 10 the giant Atlas
nolh. from India. which may measure
@ much % . foot from tip to tip OF
he fore-Wings. For the sake OF H.
o1aarity We may place the little
clothes moth OF our wardfobes at the
cher end Of the scale-though II 10
aot BY any means the smallest Of 10
kinA.
ne Atlas and tho Owl moths men
t3cued above havs larger wings than
any other living insects. % far % 70
knovn; but they are not the largest
aying insects ON record. for some Of
the extinct dragon dies Of the car
eouifsrous period measured two fest
aerpss the wings. The largest BF!tish
dragon ny. with . wing expanss OF -four
anches, 10 . pygmy, contracted size for
sass with one OF IL gigantic prshis-
Aossc ancestors.
Among tho largest existing insects
mast b. reckoned the giant water.
Auss. some Of which attain . length
a nearly AVE- inches. In the United
G4atss these insects are known popu.
1ariy % electric light bugs" because
ehey have the habit at night OF leav.
Sns the pools and lakes. where thsy
eet their living. and flying around arc
Sanps, especially when these are
s.ouuted upon high buildings. The
british water scorpion IL well-known
Aeuissn Of ponds and sluggish
etreans. II bclonGs to tho Same fam.
nv a the giant bugs, besides which
n may fairly be termed . dwarf.
The longest Of living insects are
sornd among the phasmids. or walk.
sns sticks." Some attain nine inches
from head to tall. while II the out.
stretched legs are included the meas.
ursment 10 much greater. Two Of
these strange insects are In marked
contrast with . Stag bectle--ths
largest British beetle, By the way.
Clearly these phasmids are long
drawn out" In . very litesal sense Of
enc phrase; but n few Of the species
are much heavier In build. This ID the
case with the very remarkable crsa'
eurs known ~ Eurycantha horrida
from Australia. II II not only long,
Aut bulky. and what with 10 hard ar'