Part 53
Their habitations are exceedingly diversified: some are found in rotten and half decayed wood, and under the decayed bark of trees, as the lucanus cervus, flying stag, scarabæus cylindricus, and many of the cerambyces; others, among the dung of various animals, particularly of horses, cows, and sheep, as the dermestes, leather-eater; hister, mimic beetle; scarabæus fimetarius, &c. Many of them make holes under the dung three or four inches deep, it will therefore be necessary to have an iron spade to dig them out, when in search of this kind of insects; some reside in the bodies of animals that are become putrid, as the silpha vespillo, carrion beetle, hister, &c. also in moist bones that have been gnawed by dogs, or other animals, on flowers having a fetid smell, and on several kinds of fungous substances; others may be found in the morning about the bottoms of perpendicular rocks and sand-banks, as the curculio, weevil; and brachus, sand-beetle. Great numbers are found on the leaves and stalks of plants, as the scarabæus melolantha, chaffer; coccinella, lady-bird; chrysomela, curculiones, &c. others delight more particularly in the flowers of plants, as the scarabæus auratus: some reside altogether in woods, as many of the cerambyces; some are found swimming on the surface of standing waters, as the gyrinus natator; others in ditches, ponds, &c. as the dytisci; many may be caught in rivers, lakes, and standing pools, by means of a thread net with small meshes, in a round wire hoop fixed to the end of a long pole; some are discovered by the light which they emit, as the lampyris noctiluca, glow-worm; and vast quantities are found on dry banks, sand-banks, sand-pits, &c. particularly when the sun shines warm; numbers may be found in houses, dark cellars, damp pits, caves, and subterraneous passages, as the tenebrio, stinking beetle; or on umbelliferous flowers and in timber-yards. Multitudes live under stones, moss, rubbish, and creeks near the shores of lakes and rivers; these are found also in bogs, marshes, moist places, pits, and holes of the earth, on stems of trees, and in the evening they crawl plentifully along pathways after a shower of rain. Some may be discovered in the hollow stems of umbelliferous plants, as the forficula, earwig.
These insects, as soon as caught, may with a pin of a proper size be stuck through the body, close to the suture that runs down the middle of the back, and then placed in the pocket box, taking care that they do not injure one another from being placed too close together. Or, if the collector be disposed to procure this class of insects, he will find it very convenient, and certainly much less cruel, to carry a number of small pill-boxes in his pocket, in which the insects may be readily secured and kept till he return home, without their suffering any pain; they are then to be immersed in boiling water, that being a most expeditious mode of killing them, and far preferable to their immersion in spirits, in which many of them will live a considerable time;[163] they may afterwards be stuck through in the manner above-mentioned, being careful to make the pin pass a sufficient length through the body of the insect, and then placed on a piece of smooth cork. When they have remained in this situation two, three, or four days, or longer, according to their size, the legs, antennæ, &c. are to be extended with a pair of fine nippers or tweezers, and placed in a natural position; in which they will, if proper care be taken of them, always remain: particular caution should, however, be used not to place them in the store box or cabinet till perfectly dry, as otherwise they will be liable to be infested with animalcula, by which they will soon be destroyed.
[163] “The best method is to inclose them in a chip box, and kill them by exposing the box to the heat of a fire; this treatment will rather absorb than add to the superfluous juices of the insect, and greatly contribute to its preservation.” Donovan.
THE METHOD OF COLLECTING INSECTS CALLED HEMIPTERA.
The genera contained in this order of insects are principally these: viz. blatta, the cockroach; mantis, camel cricket; gryllus, locust, grasshopper, cricket; cicada, flea locust; cimex or bug.
The first of these, the cockroach, has been imported from warmer climates, where these insects are extremely numerous, and far more troublesome.[164] They are found in the greatest plenty here in bakehouses, particularly in the night, their usual time of feeding; they likewise abound in corn-mills, in ships, and in all places where meal is deposited.
[164] In the island of Senegal they do incredible mischief; they gnaw linen, sheets, wood, paper, books, and, in short, whatever comes in their way; they attack even the aloes, the bitterness of which keeps off all other insects. Adanson’s Voyage, p. 296.
All those of the next genus, mantis, are foreign; some of them are extremely remarkable and curious, and from their particular shape, as well as their colour, have been called walking leaves; they are found in meadows, on grass, and on the leaves of plants and trees. The grylli mostly reside in meadows and fields among the herbage; however formidable the mischief occasioned by the blattæ may appear, it is trivial when compared with the ravages of the gryllus migratorius or locust.[165] One species of this genus, the gryllus domesticus, resides in houses, particularly where there are ovens, and entertains the inhabitants with the chirping sound it emits. Most of the fulgoræ or lanthorn-flies are discoverable by the light which proceeds from them; these, like the mantæ, are foreign, and many of them equally curious. The cicadæ are found on trees and plants; the notonectæ and nepæ frequent rivers, lakes, and standing waters. There is scarce a person who has resided any time in a very populous place, but knows where to find one species of the next genus or cimex, viz. that distinguished by the name of cimex lectularius or bed bug.[166]
[165] Adanson relates, that soon after his arrival in Senegal, he was a witness to the mischief done by locusts, that scourge so dreadful to hot climates! Towards eight o’clock in the morning there suddenly arose a thick cloud that darkened the air, and obstructed the rays of the sun; the cause of which was soon found to be myriads of locusts, raised about twenty or thirty fathoms from the ground, and covering an extent of several leagues, upon which a shower of these insects fell, devouring while they rested themselves, and then resuming their flight. This cloud was brought by a very strong easterly wind; it was all the morning passing over the adjacent country, and it was supposed the same wind drove the locusts into the sea. They spread desolation wherever they came; after devouring the herbage, with the fruits and leaves of trees, they attacked even the buds and the very bark; they did not so much as spare the dry reeds with which the huts were thatched. Hasselquist in his Voyage to the Levant, says that “the inhabitants of Asia sometimes take the field against locusts with all the apparatus of war. The bashaw of Tripoli in Syria some years ago raised 4000 soldiers against these insects, and ordered those to be hanged who refused to go.” Amidst the numerous blessings our own favoured isle enjoys, what a happiness it is to be exempted from the ravages of these pernicious insects, as well as from the government of bashaws! In the year 1748 great numbers of the grylli migratorii were seen in London and its vicinity, but they were not productive of any mischief, and soon perished.
[166] These unpleasant domestics were scarcely observed in England previous to the fire of London in the year 1666. It is conjectured that they were afterwards introduced with the limber imported for re-building the houses: allowing this to be the fact, posterity may console themselves with the inconveniences they sustain from this evil, by reflecting how much benefit they have derived in other respects from the unhappy catastrophe which produced it.
These insects may be killed either with boiling water or a few drops of the etherial oil or spirit of turpentine. They are all of them to be stuck through the thorax or back, betwixt the shoulders; the wings of the grylli and some of the others are to be expanded, and kept so by the little braces, and their legs, antennæ, &c. placed in a natural situation.
THE METHOD OF COLLECTING INSECTS CALLED NEUROPTERA.
Those of this class, the fourth order of Linnæus, are chiefly aquatic, residing in the waters as caterpillars, and flying about them in their perfect state. The principal genera are, the libellula, dragon-fly; ephemera, may-fly; phryganea, spring-fly; hemerobius, and panorpa. The libellulæ are considered by the generality of people as containing in them something venomous; and from hence, in addition to the epithet, alone sufficiently tremendous, of dragon-fly, have obtained the several names of adder-spear, adder-bolt, horse-stinger, &c. It must be confessed, that their shape, manner of flight, &c. are such as might readily raise such an idea in the minds of the multitude, who but too often form their decisions from appearances only; but naturalists are unaccustomed to such hasty determinations, and they can safely advise the collector not to be misled by terrific words, nor intimidated from catching them, they being perfectly harmless, indeed more so than the gnats which constitute a part of their food. The butterfly net already described will be very convenient for catching insects of this order, particularly the libellulæ.
They are all of them easily killed, either by pressure of the thorax, or with spirit of turpentine, spirit of wine, or the fumes of sulphur; the same means are to be used in setting them as in the hemiptera.
THE METHOD OF COLLECTING INSECTS CALLED HYMENOPTERA.
The remarks which have just been made on the libellulæ do not apply to insects of this order, the major part of them being armed with stings; some of which are, however, harmless, though others are venomous. The principal genera are, the tenthredo, saw-fly; ichneumon, ichneumon-fly; sphex, ichneumon-wasp; vespa, wasp, hornet; apis, bee; formica, ant; sirex, and chrysis. The tenthredines are found on trees and flowers in their caterpillar state; they feed on the leaves of plants. The ichneumons are found in the same manner; in their caterpillar state, they live chiefly in the bodies of other insects, particularly in the caterpillars of the moths and butterflies, as has been already mentioned. The sphex resides principally in sand-banks, it is also caught on flowers, shrubs and fruits, and about hedges; this insect catches and kills others, which it buries in the sand, having previously deposited its eggs in them. Wasps, bees, and ants, are found on flowers and fruits, and almost on every sweet substance. The chrysis, of which many species are exceeding beautiful, is found flying about old walls, posts, sand-banks, &c. in which it builds its nest. Wasps and bees are the only winged insects that have any great degree of poison in them, they should therefore be taken with the forceps before described, and handled cautiously on account of their stings, which are dangerous. Some, as the mytilla, naked bee, have stings, but no poison, and are to be found on the flowers of umbelliferous plants, when the sun shines hot in the middle of the day; at which time others, as the chrysis, &c. are also to be met with: when caught, a pin is to be stuck through them whilst in the net. It is very difficult to kill these insects without injuring them in some respect; boiling water hurts their wings, and the fine hairs with which many of them are covered; spirits of wine or turpentine prove immediately fatal to some, whilst others are scarce affected by them; and letting them remain transfixed till they are dead, will probably be thought too cruel; it is said, that the best method hitherto practised, is to stick them through with a needle dipped in aqua fortis; the sphinges, and other large moths, are likewise killed in the same manner with the least injury: the reader will adopt either of these methods, or any other he may deem expedient. When dead, their wings are to be expanded, and kept in as natural a position as possible.
THE METHOD OF COLLECTING INSECTS CALLED DIPTERA.
This order contains various kinds of flies and gnats; the former abound in almost every place, but they are found more particularly on all kinds of plants and flowers, especially on the umbelliferous ones, about the tops of trees, little hills, &c. Some of them fly about cattle of various kind, in the skins of which they deposit their eggs, as the oestrus bovis, &c. These insects are easily killed by a few drops of spirit of turpentine: their wings are to be expanded so that their bodies may become apparent; a little brace should be placed underneath them, to prevent their bodies being too much incurvated in drying, which they are very apt to be. Many of these are most easily taken when they begin to feed; for, in the middle of the day they are so quick and active, that it is almost impossible to catch them.
With regard to the last order of insects, distinguished by the term APTERA, they are so common, and the places they inhabit so generally known, that any information on the means of collecting them must be superfluous. Under this class are included spiders, scorpions, centipes, crabs, lobsters, &c. &c. Most of these require to be preserved in some kind of spirit; spirit of wine, proof spirit, or geneva, are to be preferred, on account of their pellucidness; though rum or brandy may, if no other spirit be at hand, answer the purpose of preserving, though not that of exhibiting them with equal advantage.
Those of the genus cancer, after being well dried or carefully baked, may be conveniently preserved in store boxes, or properly arranged in a cabinet collection. The smaller kinds of insects in general, as well as those of the order aptera, are best disposed of between talcs in sliders; such, for instance, as the termes pulsatorium,[167] the several poduræ, pediculi, pulices, acari, &c.
[167] According to Linnæus, this is the minute insect which has been long known by the English name of the death-watch, and described by a number of authors: Linnæus thus notices it; “frequens in domibus, invisum vestibus, herbariis, insectorum museis. Fœmina horologii instar pulsatoria in ligneis festucis.” Syst. Nat. p. 1015. No. 2. Geoffroy, however, says he is confident that it is not from this insect, but from the dermestes domesticus, (Syst. Nat. p. 563, No. 12,) which makes the circular holes in furniture, that the ticking noise proceeds. Hist. des Insectes, Tom. I. p. 111. & Tom. II. p. 602. Neither of these are larger than the pediculus humanus. Again, on the respectable authority of Dr. Shaw, we are assured, that the insect properly called the death-watch is a coleopterous insect of the genus ptinus, Syst. Nat. p. 565. The Doctor says, “it is chiefly in the advanced state of the spring that this alarming little insect commences its sound--the prevailing number of distinct strokes is from seven to nine or eleven--these are given in pretty quick succession, and are repeated at uncertain intervals; and in old houses, where the insects are numerous, may be heard almost every hour of the day, especially if the weather be warm. The sound exactly resembles that which may be made by beating moderately hard with the nail on a table--It is about a quarter of an inch in length.” This very able naturalist has distinguished the insect by the name of ptinus fatidicus, the beating ptinus, and supposes it to be the same with the dermestes tesselatus of Fabricius, and the ptinus pulsator of Gmelin. He also cautions us “not to confound this insect, which is the real death-watch of the vulgar, emphatically so called, with another insect, which makes a sound like the ticking of a watch, and which continues its sound for a long time without intermission: it belongs to a totally different tribe from the death-watch, and is the termes pulsatorium of Linnaeus.” Every one will agree with the Doctor in his remark, that, “it is a very singular circumstance that an animal so common should not be more universally known.” Nat. Misc. vol. iii.
Whichsoever of the three above described is the real insect, it is well known, that for a series of years the dread of it has excited the most uneasy sensations in the minds of the weak and superstitious; an unhappy prejudice which exists even to the present hour, and cannot be totally eradicated by all the powers of reason and argument. Sir Thomas Brown long since observed, “He that could extinguish the terrifying apprehensions hereof, might prevent the passions of the heart, and many cold sweats in grandmothers and nurses.” Pseudodoxia Epidemica, Book ii. Chap. 7. With the feelings of these persons a well-known satirist sports in the following lines:
“a wood worm That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form: With teeth or with claws it will bite or will scratch, And chambermaids christen this worm a DEATH-WATCH: Because like a watch, it always cries click, Then woe be to those in the house who are sick; For sure as a gun, they will give up the ghost, If the maggot cries click, when it scratches the post.”
Swift’s Invective against Wood.
Another poet has also diverted himself with the same subject:
“The weather’s bell Before the drooping flock told forth her knell. The solemn DEATH-WATCH click’d the hour she died.”
Gay’s Pastoral Dirge.
It is remarkable, that though the ignorant despise the minuter parts of creation, as too insignificant to engage their notice, and venture to deride those better informed for their attention to such TRIFLING subjects; yet are those the very persons on whom REAL TRIFLES make the strongest impressions, and by whose credulity an apparently insignificant creature has been MAGNIFIED, so as to become an object of considerable importance in the scale of beings; for, as our great dramatist says of the JEALOUS:
“Trifles light as air Are to the TIMID confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ.”
As the collector will have frequent occasion for the use of cork, both to line his boxes with, and to set his insects on, the following directions how to prepare it for these purposes will be found useful.
He may procure the cork in large pieces at any of the cork-cutters; these must be cut into smaller ones, and, in order to make the cork flat, it is to be held before the fire till the heat thoroughly penetrate it; the cork is then to be immediately placed betwixt two smooth boards, and a very heavy weight laid on it; in which situation it must remain till cold. Thus flattened, it is to be rasped on both sides, with such a rasp as is used by the bakers; afterwards, with a finer one; and, lastly, with a pumice-stone; by which it will be rendered perfectly smooth. If the cork be thick, and the purpose of it to line boxes, it may be sawed through the middle, and rasped as before directed.
As, without a due attention to the state of the atmosphere, the collector may make many fruitless excursions, it will be proper to point out to him the kind of weather best adapted for the purpose of ensuring success.
If the day prove fine, and the sun emit much warmth, insects are very brisk and lively; if, on the contrary, the weather should be cold or windy, it will be in vain to attempt catching them on the wing, as at such times insects in general take shelter within the herbage, and instead of flying upwards, which is usually the case when disturbed, they dart into the thickest underwood; or should they rise above the bushes, they are impetuously hurled by the current of the wind far beyond the reach of the net; and, were it otherwise, the collector would find the apparatus unmanageable. Harris says the garden white is as good a token for fine weather as may be; when these flies are out in the morning, it generally prognosticates a fine day.
At day-break many insects are on the wing; and most kinds are observed in hot weather to come forth after rain, to enjoy the humidity of the air; this is the best time for collecting, as their wings are less subject to stiffen before they can be set.
The males of some, if not of every species of moths, and possibly of other insects, by a faculty to us incomprehensible, are able to discover the females, not only at a great distance, but in the most recluse situations. This circumstance has induced some collectors to endeavour to entrap such of the males as are not easily procured by any of the common methods: they enclose the female in a breeding box, and place it as near the usual haunts of the species as convenient; the males will generally be observed soon after fluttering on the box, and endeavouring to gain admission to the females. This artifice has been repeatedly practised with success on the fox and egger moths.
Every species has its distinct time for appearance, which is seldom accelerated or retarded a few days, unless by the unusual mildness or inclemency of the season. If a brood of insects be discovered at a certain season of the year, a brood of the same species will be found precisely at, or near the same period of the year following, except by accident they should have been destroyed. Notwithstanding the observation holds good in general, it is a fact that some insects are very variable in this respect; for instance, the sphinx convolvuli, unicorn hawk-moth, and the papilio hyale, clouded-yellow butterfly, were common about London in the year 1781, but have been very scarce since that time, especially the former; the papilio cardui, painted lady, sometimes disappears for several years. The papilio antiopa, grand surprize or Camberwell beauty, was first discovered in the year 1748, in Cold-arbour lane, Camberwell, and has occasionally disappeared for some years; a few seasons since several were taken in different parts of the kingdom; subsequent to which period, it is not known that even one specimen has been seen. It has been repeatedly ascertained, that, as with plants, so it is with insects, some kinds are confined to one particular spot of ground, and are not to be found in any other part of the same wood; consequently, the haunts being once discovered, the collector may be encouraged to expect meeting with some of the same species for several seasons successively.
Minute moths are to be found in winter as well as summer. It would be scarcely credible, did not experience prove, that when the frost is so intense, as to entirely subvert the appearance and almost annihilate the existence of vegetable productions, within its influence myriads of these delicately-formed creatures brave the inclement season, and exist securely within those habitations which they have the address to construct. A skilful entomologist may at this season in a few hours collect a number of the coleoptera, hemiptera, and lepidoptera orders; several of which are not to be obtained, but in very cold weather.