<!-- pandi-media-anchor:figure-p8-o2-1b0c7160de57763e -->

Insects at Home

Being a popular account of British insects, their structure, habits, and transformations.

By the Rev. J. G. Wood, M.A., F.L.S., &c.

Author of “Homes Without Hands”, “Bible Animals”, “Common Objects of the Sea-Shore and Country”, etc.

With upwards of 700 figures by E. A. Smith and J. B. Zwecker, engraved by G. Pearson.

London: Longmans, Green, and Co.

The right of translation is reserved.

Preface.

The plan of this work is easily described. In it will be found a tolerably comprehensive account of the insects which inhabit England, together with the principal details of their structure, and the most interesting incidents of their mode of life.

As this is not a work on comparative anatomy, but treats of ‘ Insects at Home,’ a greater stress is laid on the habits of the insects than on their anatomy. Still, inasmuch as a general knowledge of the various parts of an insect and of the terms applied to them is absolutely necessary for all who wish to study the subject, however superficially, I have given, together with the different groups of insects, those portions of their structure which serve to distinguish them from their fellows.

Moreover, there will be found prefixed to the description of the chief groups chart-drawings of their anatomy, so as to enable the reader to recognise. the various portions of an insect when he examines it. I am led to do this by the remembrance of the difficulties undergone by myself during my earlier years of entomology. In those days the only works which gave illustrations as well as names were so few, and so costly, that they were positively out of my reach as much as if they had never existed. I have therefore endeavoured in this work to supply that want which I felt so severely, and have so arranged the work that no reader need be puzzled as to the difference between mandible, maxilla, labium, and mentum, as I was in former days. F or example, the chart-drawing on page 9 describes fully the structure of a Beetle, and is in fact a key to that of all insects ; that on page 296 gives all those

points in which the Bees, Wasps, Ants and their kin differ from the Beetles ; and that on page 385 performs the same service with regard to the Moths and Butterflies.

In the Woodcuts which are inserted in the text the numbered figures represent insects, and those to which letters are attached represent the most important details of those insects. It is by means of such details that entomologists are enabled to arrange insects in some definite system, and so to enable anyone who is acquainted with them to identify an insect which he has never before seen.

The reader may probably notice that these figures of insects are hut slightly shaded, and in many cases are little but outline. This is intentional, and the shading is omitted in order that the reader may supply its place by colour. In every case where red, yellow, or light hues of any tint are to be used, their place is left as nearly blank as possible ; and, as the insects are described fully in the text, there will be no difficulty in applying the colours. I would recommend a liberal use of ox-gall in mixing the colours, so as to neutralise the oily lines of the printer’s ink.

Should the reader wish to colour the page-size engTavings, he must first prepare them with a little size, or otherwise the colours will run. It will be found better, in order to bring out the insects more boldly, either to leave the background uncoloured, or to put in the colours as lightly as possible. I very strongly recommend the possessor of the work to colour these illustrations, as he will thus fix the insects firmly in his mind, and quadruple the value of the volume to other readers.

October 1871.

Contents

Contents

• ILLUSTRATIONS.

• PLATES.

• FRONTISPIECE.

• GROUND BEETLES Tofacep.Z2

• 1. Tiger Beetle {Cicindela campestris) on the wing.
• 2. Great Green Grasshopper (Acrida viridissima) depositing its eggs in the ground.
• 3. Dragon Fly {JEschna grandis) in chase of prey.
• 4. Great Sirex {Sir ex gig as) depositing its eggs.
• 5. Hornet ( Vespa crahrd) eating a Red

• Admiral Butterfly.

• Plants : —

• 6. Swallow-tail Butterfly {Papilio Machaon) flying.
• 7. Light Crimson Underwing {Catocala promissa) flying.
• 8. British Cicada {Cicada anglica) flying.
• 9. Humble-Bee Fly {Bombylius medius) feeding while on the wing.

• PLATE I.

• WATER BEETLES . Tofacep.I,i

• TIGER BEETLES AND BOM-

• BARDIER . To face p. 1 6

• 1 . Cicindela sylvatica and larva.

• 2. Cicindela maritima and larva.
• 3. Cicindela germanica and larva.
• 4. Broscus cephalotes.
• 5. Brachinus crepitans.
• 6. Carabus monilis.

• Plants : —

• Plants : —

• Bramble {Ruhus frutieosus). Above.

• Heath {Erica cinerea). Right of middle.

• Lavender Thrift {Statke Limonium).

• Left of middle.

• Fern {Ptcris aquilina). Above heath.

• PLATE n.

• 1. Lebia crux-minor.
• 2. Calosoma inquisitor.
• 3. Carabus intricatus.
• 4. Cychrus rostratus.
• 5. Calosoma, larva in nest of Social caterpillar.
• 6. Carabus, larva.

• Trunk and branch of Oak {Quercus

• Rohur). Above.

• Wood Anemone {Anemone nemorosa).

• Across centre.

• Cowslip {Primula veris). In middle.

• PLATE III.

• 1. Dyticus marginaKs (male).
• 2. Dyticus marginalia (female).
• 3. Gyrinus natator (and under).
• 4. Dyticus marginalis, larva.
• 5. Gyrinus natator, larva.
• 6. Gyrinus natator, pupa case (on arrow-head).

• Arrow-head {Sagittaria sagittifolia).

• Left upper corner.

• Creeping Moiise-ear {My osotis repens).

• Right upper corner.

• Bristle-stalk Club-rush {Scirpus setaceus). Under Myosotis.

• Water Feather- foil {Hottonia palustris). Under arrow-head.

• PLATE IV.

• EOVE BEETLES AND BUSYING

• BEETLES . To face p. 76

• 1. Boletobius atricapillus.
• 2. Ocypus olens (eggs below).
• 3. Staphylinus caesareus.
• 4. Necrophonis humator.
• 5. Neerophorus vespillo.
• 6. Neerophorus mortuorum.
• 7. Choleva angustata.
• 8. Hister bimaculata.
• 9. Nitidula depressa.
• 10. Boletobius in gills of mushroom.
• 11. Neerophorus humator, larva.
• 12. Silpha thoraeiea, larva.
• 13. Oeypus olens, larva.
• 14. Silpha thoraeiea (on body of bird).

• Plant : —

• Edible Mushroom {Agaricus campesiris).

• PLATE V.

• CHAFES S . . Tofacep.Ui

• 1. Cetonia aurata.
• 2. Melolontha vulgaris (male).
• 3. Geotrupes stereorarius.
• 4. Lucanus cervus.
• 5. Lueanus eervus, larva (very young).
• 6. Cetonia aurata, larva (three parts grown).
• 7. Cetonia aurata (pupa eases or eoeoons).
• 8. Geotrupes stereorarius, larva (young).
• 9. Melolontha vulgaris, larva (three parts grown).

• Plant : —

• Wild Rose {Sosa canina).

• PLATE VI.

• GLOW-WOSM, OIL-BEETLES,

• WEEVILS, LONG-HOSNS, AND

• LADY-BISDS. . To face p. 192

• 1. Lampyris noetiluea (male).
• 2. Lampyris noetiluea (female).
• 3. Meloe eicatrieosus (male).
• 4. Meloe cieatrieosus (female).
• 5. Meloe eieatrlcosus, larva (full grown).
• 6. Phytonomus tigrinus.
• 7. Lixus bieolor.
• 8. Lixus bieolor, nest.
• 9. Aromia mosehata.
• 10. Clytus arietis.
• 11. Cassida murina.
• 12. Coeeinella septempunetata.

• Plants : —

• Willow {Salix alba). Above.

• Wild Carrot {Dawcus carota). Left of middle.

• PLATE Vn.

• EASWIGS, FIELD-COCKSOACH,

• AND CSICKETS . To face p. 229,

• 1. Forfieula gigantea.
• 2. Forfieula aurieularia.
• 3. Blatta germaniea.
• 4. Blatta germaniea (egg-ease).
• 5. Gryllotalpa vulgaris.
• 6. Gryllus eampestris.

• Plants : —

• Great Bindweed {Convolvulus scpium). Above.

• Purple Clover {Trifolium pratense).

• Eight of middle.

• PLATE VIII.

• DSA GON- FLIES, MA Y

• • FLIES.

• AND CADDIS . To face p. 266

• 1. Ephemera vulgata.
• 2. Ephemera, larva.
• 3. Libellula depressa.

• 3a.Libellula emerging from pupacase.

• 4. Libellula, larva.
• 5. Calopteryx virgo.
• 6. Agrion minium.
• 7. Phryganea grandis.
• 8. Phryganea, larva cases, or caddis.

• Plants : —

• Flowering Rush {Butomus umbcllatus). In centre.

• Marc’s Tail {Hippuris vulgaris). On right.

• Water Bistort {Polygonum amphibium). On left.

• Plants : —

• PLATE IX.

• SAW-FLIES, GALL-FLIES, AND

• 81BEX . . To face p. 300

• 1. Cimbex lutea.
• 2. Cimbex, cocoon.

• ,3. Cimbex, larva.

• HUMBLE BEES . To face p. 370

• 4. Lyda hortensis.
• 5. Tricbiosoma lucorum.
• 6. Cynips Kollari.
• 7. Sirex jnvencus (male).

• Plants ; —

• OaR, Fir, and Hawthorn.

• Plants : —

• PLATE X.

• PAEASITIC HYMENOPTERA.

• To face p. 324

• BUTTERFLIES . Tofacep.S^

• 1 . Pezomachns zonatus and nests of spider.

• 2. Pezomachns fasciatus.
• 3. Trogns atropos.
• 4. Rhyssa persuasoria.

• Plants : —

• 6. Rhyssa depositing eggs.
• 6. Chelonus ocnlator (rather magnified).

• Caterpillar of Death’s Head Moth.

• In middle.

• Plants : —

• Willow. Above.

• HAWK MOTHS . To face p. 422

• Dog-grass {Cynosurus). In middle, with m\id-nests of Spider.

• Wood Sorrel {Oxalis acetosella). Below.

• PLATE XI.

• Plant : —

• ANTS, WASPS, AND SOLITARY

• BEES . . To face p. 350

• 1. Formica mfa and nest.
• 2. Quedius brevis.

• NIGHT FLIERS . To face p. 444

• 3. Eumenes and nest.
• 4. Vespa arborea and nest.
• 6. Andrena nitida.
• 6. Andrena Trimmerana.
• 7. Cilissa hsemorrhoidalis.
• 8. Nomafla ruficornis.

• Plants : —

• 9. Stylops melittm.

• Harebell.

• Common Heath {Erica cinera), with

• Ivy. nest of Eumenes.

• PLATE XII.

• 1. Bombus lucorum (female).
• 2. Bombus muscorum (female).
• 3. Apathus vestalis (female.)
• 4. Eucera longicornis (male).

• Hawthorn. Above.

• Sea Campion {Silene maritima). Below.

• PLATE XIII.

• 1. Vanessa polychloros.
• 2. Vanessa Atalanta.
• 3. Vanessa cardui.

• Meadow Crane's Bill {Geranium pratense). Above, on right.

• Buttercup {Ranunculus bulbosus). In middle.

• PLATE XIV.

• 1. Acherontia atropos.
• 2. Acherontia larva.
• 3. Macroglossa stellatarum.
• 4. Macroglossa fuciformis.

• Potato.

• PLATE XV.

• 1. Chelonia caja.
• 2. Lasiocampa quercus.
• 3. Saturnia carpini.
• 4. Dicranura vinula.

• Oak and Willow.

• PLATE XVI.

• GEOMETERS AND NOCTUJE.

• To face p. 452

• 1. Agrotis segetum.
• 2. Agrotis larva.
• 3. Xanthia flavago.
• 4. Geometra papilionaria.
• 6. Abraxas grossulariata, larva.

• Plants : —

• Curraut and Strawberry.

• PLATE XVII.

• Abraxas grossulariata.

• BELTOIRES, TORTRICES, TINEM,

• AND PTEROPHOEI.

• To facep. 504

• 1. Hypena proboscidalis.
• 2. Hypena proboscidalis, larva.
• 3. Tortrix pomonana.
• 4. Tortrix pomonana, larva.
• 6. Pterophorus pentadactylus.
• 6. Pterophorus pterodactylus.
• 7. Nepticula aurella.
• 8. Bramble-leaves mined by Nepticula.

• Plants : —

• Apple and Bramble.

• PLATE XVIII.

• TERRESTRIAL HOMOPTERA AND

• HETEROPTERA . To facep. 538

• 1. Ledra aurita.
• 2. Ledra aurita, larva.
• 4. Pentatoma dissimile.
• 5. Stenocephalis agilis.

• Plants ; —

• Great Ragwort (Senecio Jacobea).

• Above.

• White Dead Nettle {Lamium album).

• Below.

• PLATE XIX.

• AQUATIC HETEROPTERA.

• To facep. 584

• 1. Ranatra linearis.
• 2. Notonecta glauca.
• 3. Nepa glauca.

• Plants : —

• Duckweed (Lemna). On surface of water.

• Various-leaved Pondweed {Potamogeton heterophyUtis).

• Starwort {Aster tripolium).

• PLATE XX.

• DIPTERA. . . 7b facep. 626

• 1. Tabanus bovinus.
• 2. Conops vesicularis.
• 3. Gasterophilus equi.
• 4. Tachina grossa.

• Plant : —

• Honeysuckle.

Woodcuts.

PAGE jaws. 2. Antennse. 2a. Scape. 2b. Club. 3. Labium, or lower lip. 3a. Labial palpi, or lip-feelers. 4. Maxillae, or lower jaws. 4a. Maxillary palpi, or jaw-feelers. 5. Head, upper surface. 6a. Eyes. 56. Vertex, or crown. 5c. Occiput, or back of head. bd. Clypeus, or shield. 6. Head, under surface. 6a. Eyes. 66. Insertion of antennae. Parts of Thorax and Abdomen. — 7. Pronotum, or upper surface of thorax. 7a. Lateral margin. 76. Anterior margin. 7c. Posterior angles. Id, Posterior margin. 1e. Anterior angles. 8. Prosternum, or under surface of thorax. 8a. Sternum. 86. Insertion of coxae. 9. Mesothorax and upper surface of abdomen. 9a. Mesothorax alone. 96. Abdomen, upper surface alone. 10. Metasternum and abdomen. 10a. Metasternum alone. 106. Abdomen, under surface alone. 10c. Parapleura, or side-pieces. 10(7. Episterna, or breast-pieces. I. — Lucanus 12. Scutellum. Legs. — 11. Anterior or first pair of legs. 11a. Tarsi, or feet. 116. ceevtjs. Tibia, or dissection. shank. 11c. Parts Femur, of the or Head, thigh. — 1. 11(7. Trochanter, Mandibles, or lie. Coxa. 13. Intermediate pair of legs. 15. Posterior pair of legs. The Wings. — 14. Elytra. 14a. Suture. 146. Lateral margin. 14c. Apex. 14(7. Base. 14e. Disc. 16. Wings folded on abdomen. 17. Left wing expanded. 18. Eight wing folded 9