The Life of an Insect being a history of the changes of insects from the egg to the perfect being.

We must now ask the reader's attention to a very important part of the history of the insect--the knowledge of its various parts, and their uses in the insect economy. Men of sc...

Generally, for a little while after the larva has emerged from the shell, it is in a very weak and languid condition. The effort of extricating itself from its little prison-hou...

To look at a house-fly as it performs its figure-of-eight dances in the air of our rooms, or as it buzzes against the window-pane, vainly endeavouring to dash its tender body th...

We must now spend a short time in narrating the particular circumstances which attend this interesting event,--the extrication of the insect from its pupa case. We shall, in the...

"Oh! start not! on thy closing eyes Another day shall still unfold; A sun of milder radiance rise; A happier age of joys untold. Shall the poor worm that shocks thy sight, The h...

The eggs of birds are, in most instances, hatched by the warmth of the mother, who sits for a certain time covering them with her wings and downy breast. But the exception to th...

Although we are anxious not to attach too much importance to mere names in this little work, and rather to keep the reader's attention fixed upon the really essential truths of...

We well know, from the various melancholy accidents which have taken place, that unless human beings have a constant supply of pure fresh air they must perish. Many years ago, a...

The last stage of the larva's history hastens on. Its career of activity and voracity is nearly ended, and the insect's days in this form are well nigh spent. Hitherto it has be...

There is, perhaps, no period in the life of an insect when it is so much in danger of the attacks of foes, as when it is in the larva state. Possessed, at the best, with but ver...

In the past pages we have now considered shortly the various methods of depositing the eggs of insects, and have seen that the nursing place where the young being is produced, d...

But we have something to say about the food of insects. Although it has been already laid down as a general rule, that insects in their perfect state, do not eat in any degree w...

But it may now be asked, What is a pupa, and what are the differences between it and a larva, and between it and the perfect insect? It is very necessary that this should be cle...

The generality of insects, as has been before mentioned, are destined never to behold the birth of their progeny, nor to experience either the pleasures or the cares of parents...

Having glanced at these particulars in the history of the pupa, we come to the important question,--Does the pupa, in this torpid condition, still breathe, as the larva did, or...

Hanging to the slender branch of yonder rose-tree, swinging to and fro with the gentle air which blows in scented waves through the flower-garden, is a little object to which we...

We are now to enter upon a very interesting part of the history of a larva: this is called _moulting_, and consists in the larva casting off its old skin, and appearing clothed...

Perfect insects breathe. That this is so, the following experiments[Z] will satisfactorily prove. A spider and a fly were put into a glass jar, the mouth of which was closed all...

Aphides--its Courage--The Ant-Lion--The "Giant Grim" of Insects--Formation of its Trap--An Insect Excavator--The Den--A Stone in it--A captive Ant--Principle of Compensation--Th...

and Physiology--Insects have not Bones--Leather-coated Jack--The Head and Thorax--The Eyes--simple and compound--Wonders of an Eye--Anatomy of the Eye--Immense number of Eyes--R...

caused by Insects--Death-watch--Life-boat of Eggs--The Water Beetle--Floating Ark of Eggs--The Gnat--her difficulties--her Egg-raft--The Sand-boring Wasp--Towers of rubbish--Cap...

Resurrection--Meaning of the word Imago--Curious aspect of New-born Insect--Conclusion of the Dragon-Fly's History--Structure of a Wing--how expanded--Deformed Wings--Exception...

Time--Influence of Heat and Cold--Eggs resist great Cold--The time of Hatching--Escape of the new Creature--Connexion between Plants and Insects--Changes in the Egg--A Spider's...

of the Cossus--Escape of a Fly--A guide-line to the Captive--Cocoon of Emperor Moth--Escape backwards--Chemical solvent--Escape of Ants--Huber's Ant-hill--Assistant Ants--Aquati...

kinds of Pupæ--Age of the Pupa--Pupæ hatched in a Hot-house--Butterflies in Winter--Pupæ hatched by a Hen--Glass Eggs--Influence of Warmth and Cold--Dreams of Immortality--Réaum...

with Larvæ--Insects do not breathe by their Mouths--Breathing Mechanism of Larvæ--Spiracles--Aquatic Larvæ--Inhabitants of the Ditch and Pool--Rat-tailed Larvæ--Remarkable Organ...