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.
These insects usually shelter themselves among the moss and other
extraneous matters growing on the trunks or branches of trees, or
beneath the rotten bark; these substances should be shut close in a box
or tin canister, to prevent the escape of those insects that may be
revived by the warmth. To examine them, Donovan recommends spreading a
sheet of writing paper on a table, and placing a lamp or candle, with a
shade of transparent or oiled paper before you, so as to weaken the
glare; separate the moss, and shake it loosely in your hand, and you
will perceive many insects fall down on the paper. If they be too minute
to admit of a pin being thrust through the thorax, they may be fastened
with gum-water to small slips of paper.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FITTING UP A CABINET.
To those who delight in subjects of natural history, a good cabinet of
insects is esteemed a valuable acquisition: if it be well constructed,
and the several objects arranged with judgment, it certainly exhibits
one of the most beautiful and admirable assemblages of objects in
nature. Such, however, who are disposed to make a collection
sufficiently extensive to form a complete one, will find it necessary to
devote a great deal of time to the purpose, as well as to be endued with
a considerable share of perseverance and ingenuity; those who are
possessed of affluence will find it far less difficult to acquire one.
The cabinet, to appear with that elegance which the subject deserves,
should be of mahogany, well seasoned, and made by a good workman in such
a manner that all the joints may fit with the greatest nicety; the form
and size may be according to fancy, or the extent of the collection
intended to be made.