THE PINE-CHAFER
The orthodox denomination of this insect is _Melolontha fullo_, Lin. It
does not answer, I am very well aware, to be difficult in matters of
nomenclature; make a noise of some sort, affix a Latin termination, and
you will have, as far as euphony goes, the equivalent of many of the
tickets pasted in the entomologist's specimen boxes. The cacophony would
be excusable if the barbarous term signified nothing but the creature
signified; but as a rule this name possesses, hidden in its Greek or
other roots, a certain meaning in which the novice hopes to find
instruction.
The hope is a delusion. The learned term refers to subtleties difficult
to comprehend, and of very indifferent importance. Too often it leads
the student astray, giving him glimpses that have nothing whatever in
common with the truth as we know it from observation. Very often the
errors implied by such names are flagrant; sometimes the allusions are
ridiculous, grotesque, or merely imbecile. So long as they have a decent
sound, how infinitely preferable are locutions in which etymology finds
nothing to dissect! Of such would be the word _fullo_, were it not that
it already has a meaning which immediately occurs to the mind. This
Latin expression means a _fuller_; a person who kneads and presses cloth
under a stream of water, making it flexible and ridding it of the
asperities of weaving. What connection has the subject of this chapter
with the fuller of cloth? I may puzzle my head in vain: no acceptable
reply will occur to me.
The term _fullo_ as applied to an insect is found in Pliny. In one
chapter the great naturalist treats of remedies against jaundice,
fevers, and dropsy. A little of everything enters into this antique
pharmacy: the longest tooth of a black dog; the nose of a mouse wrapped
in a pink cloth; the right eye of a green lizard torn from the living
animal and placed in a bag of kid-skin; the heart of a serpent, cut out
with the left hand; the four articulations of the tail of a scorpion,
including the dart, wrapped tightly in a black cloth, so that for three
days the sick man can see neither the remedy nor him that applies it;
and a number of other extravagances. We may well close the book, alarmed
at the slough of the imbecility whence the art of healing has come down
to us.
In the midst of these imbecilities, the preludes of medicine, we find a
mention of the "fuller." _Tertium qui vocatur fullo, albis guttis,
dissectum utrique lacerto adalligant_, says the text. To treat fevers
divide the fuller beetle in two parts and apply half under the right arm
and half under the left.
[Illustration: THE PINE-CHAFER.
(_Melolontha fullo._)]
Now what did the ancient naturalist mean by the term "fuller beetle"? We
do not precisely know. The qualification _albis guttis_, white spots,
would fit the Pine-chafer well enough, but it is not sufficient to
make us certain. Pliny himself does not seem to have been very certain
of the identity of the remedy. In his time men's eyes had not yet
learned to see the insect world. Insects were too small; they were well
enough for amusing children, who would tie them to the end of a long
thread and make them walk in circles, but they were not worthy of
occupying the attention of a self-respecting man.
Pliny apparently derived the word from the country-folk, always poor
observers and inclined to extravagant denominations. The scholar
accepted the rural locution, the work perhaps of the imagination of
childhood, and applied it at hazard without informing himself more
particularly. The word came down to us embalmed with age; our modern
naturalists have accepted it, and thus one of our handsomest insects has
become the "fuller." The majesty of antiquity has consecrated the
strange appellation.
In spite of all my respect for the antique, I cannot myself accept the
term "fuller," because under the circumstances it is absurd. Common
sense should be considered before the aberrations of nomenclature. Why
not call our subject the Pine-chafer, in reference to the beloved tree,
the paradise of the insect during the two or three weeks of its aerial
life? Nothing could be simpler, or more appropriate, to give the better
reason last.
We have to wander for ages in the night of absurdity before we reach the
radiant light of the truth. All our sciences witness to this fact; even
the science of numbers. Try to add a column of Roman figures; you will
abandon the task, stupefied by the confusion of symbols; and will
recognise what a revolution was made in arithmetic by the discovery of
the zero. Like the egg of Columbus, it was a very little thing, but it
had to be thought of.
While hoping that the future will sink the unfortunate "fuller" in
oblivion, we will use the term "pine chafer" between ourselves. Under
that name no one can possibly mistake the insect in question, which
frequents the pine-tree only.
It has a handsome and dignified appearance, rivalling that of _Oryctes
nasicornis_. Its costume, if it has not the metallic splendour dear to
the Scarabæi, the Buprestes and the rose-beetles, is at least unusually
elegant. A black or chestnut background is thickly sown with
capriciously shaped spots of white velvet; a fashion both modest and
handsome.
The male bears at the end of his short antennæ a kind of plume
consisting of seven large superimposed plates or leaves, which, opening
and closing like the sticks of a fan, betray the emotions that possess
him. At first sight it seems that this magnificent foliage must form a
sense-organ of great perfection, capable of perceiving subtle odours, or
almost inaudible vibrations of the air, or other phenomena to which our
senses fail to respond; but the female warns us that we must not place
too much reliance on such ideas; for although her maternal duties demand
a degree of impressionability at least as great as that of the male, yet
the plumes of her antennæ are extremely meagre, containing only six
narrow leaves.
What then is the use of the enormous fan-like structure of the male
antennæ? The seven-leaved apparatus is for the Pine-chafer what his long
vibrating horns are to the Cerambyx and the panoply of the head to the
Onthophagus and the forked antlers of the mandibles to the Stag-beetle.
Each decks himself after his manner in these nuptial extravagances.
This handsome chafer appears towards the summer solstice, almost
simultaneously with the first Cigales. The punctuality of its appearance
gives it a place in the entomological calendar, which is no less
punctual than that of the seasons. When the longest days come, those
days which seem endless and gild the harvests, it never fails to hasten
to its tree. The fires of St. John, reminiscences of the festivals of
the Sun, which the children light in the village streets, are not more
punctual in their date.
At this season, in the hours of twilight, the Pine-chafer comes every
evening if the weather is fine, to visit the pine-trees in the garden. I
follow its evolutions with my eyes. With a silent flight, not without
spirit, the males especially wheel and wheel about, extending their
great antennary plumes; they go to and fro, to and fro, a procession of
flying shadows upon the pale blue of the sky in which the last light of
day is dying. They settle, take flight again, and once more resume their
busy rounds. What are they doing up there during the fortnight of their
festival?
The answer is evident: they are courting their mates, and they continue
to render their homage until the fall of night. In the morning both
males and females commonly occupy the lower branches. They lie there
isolated, motionless, indifferent to passing events. They do not avoid
the hand about to seize them. Most of them are hanging by their hind
legs and nibbling the pine-needles; they seem to be gently drowsing with
the needles at their mouths. When twilight returns they resume their
frolics.
To watch these frolics in the tops of the trees is hardly possible; let
us try to observe them in captivity. Four pairs are collected in the
morning and placed, with some twigs off the pine-tree, in a spacious;
cage. The sight is hardly worth my attention; deprived of the
possibility of flight, the insects cannot behave as in the open. At most
I see a male from time to time approaching his beloved; he spreads out
the leaves of his antennæ, and agitates them so that they shiver
slightly; he is perhaps informing himself if he is welcome. Thereupon he
puts on his finest airs and exhibits his attainments. It is a useless
display; the female is motionless, as though insensible to these
demonstrations. Captivity has sorrows that are hard to overcome. This
was all that I was able to see. Mating, it appears, must take place
during the later hours of the night, so that I missed the propitious
moment.
One detail in particular interested me. The Pine-chafer emits a musical
note. The female is as gifted as the male. Does the lover make use of
his faculty as a means of seduction and appeal? Does the female answer
the chirp of her _innamorata_ by a similar chirp? That this may be so
under normal conditions, amidst the foliage of the pines, is extremely
probable; but I can make no assertion, as I have never heard anything of
the kind either among the pines or in my laboratory.
The sound is produced by the extremity of the abdomen, which gently
rises and falls, rubbing, as it does so, with its last few segments, the
hinder edge of the wing-covers, which are held firm and motionless.
There is no special equipment on the rubbing surface nor on the surface
rubbed. The magnifying-glass looks in vain for the fine striations
usually found in the musical instruments of the insect world. All is
smooth on either hand. How then is the sound engendered?
Rub the end of the moistened finger on a strip of glass, or a
window-pane, and you will obtain a very audible sound, somewhat
analogous to that emitted by the chafer. Better still, use a scrap of
indiarubber to rub the glass with, and you will reproduce with some
fidelity the sound in question. If the proper rhythm is observed the
imitation is so successful that one might well be deceived by it.
In the musical apparatus of the Pine-chafer the pad of the finger-tip
and the scrap of indiarubber are represented by the soft abdomen of the
insect, and the glass is represented by the blade of the wing-cover,
which forms a thin, rigid plate, easily set in vibration. The
sound-mechanism of the Pine-chafer is thus of the very simplest
description.
INDEX
A
Acorn-Weevil, _see_ Elephant-Beetle
Ameles, _see_ Mantis, the Grey
Anacreon, on the Cigale, 9
Ant, fable of the Cigale and the, 1-16
Devours the Cigale, 9
Robs the Cigale, 8
Arum, Serpent or Putrid, the, attracts and captures insects by means
of its offensive effluvia, 230-2
B
_Balaninus_, _see_ Elephant-Beetle
Bean, ancestry of, 258-9
Bean, _see_ Haricot
Bean-Weevil, _see_ Weevil
Bees, victims of Philanthus, _see_ latter
Bembex, 168, 172
Bolboceras Gallicus, 217-37
Appearance of, 223
Habits and diet, 226-30
Lodging of, 225
_Bruchus pisi_, see Pea-Weevil
_Bruchus lenti_, see Lentil-Weevil
Buprestes, 21
C
_Cacan_, the, 36-9
Capricornis, 21-2
Cerceris, 172, 178
Chrysomela, 151, 172
Cigale, the, 1-67
Burrow of the, 17-30
Deafness of the, 41-3
Diet, 7
Eggs of the, 45-67
Eggs, hatching of, 61-7
Eggs, method of laying, 50-4
Enemies of the, 47-50
Excavation, method of, 23-7
Fable of Ant and, 1-16
Larva of the, 17-30
Larva, habits of, 61-7
Mechanism of sound, 31-4
Pupa, emergence from, 28
Song of the, 2, 6, 31-44
Species of, 31-6
Cigalo e la Fournigo (Provençal poem), 10-16
Cricket, Field, the, 120-9
Eggs of, 120-2
Excavations of, 124-5
Fertility of, 123
Song of, 126-8
Cricket, Italian, the, 130-5
Appearance of, 130
Song of, 131-4
D
Dermestes, victims of arum, 232
Dioscorides on the Cigale, 29
Diptera, 168, 172
Dog, its love of stenches, 233
Scent of the, 220-22
A truffle-hunter, 218-20
E
Elephant-Beetle (Balaninus or Acorn-Weevil), 238-57
Boring acorns, habit of, 240-4
Eggs, method of laying, 245, 254-7
Motives in boring, 246-50
Snout of, 238-9
Emperor Moth, _see_ Great Peacock Moth
_Empusa pauperata_, _see_ Mantis
Eucores, 176
G
Golden Gardener, the, 102-19
Cannibal habits of, 111-19
Courtship of, 103-10
Ferocity of, 101-4, 108-10
Nutriment of, 102-10
Vermin killer, as a, 107
Grandville, illustrates La Fontaine's fables, 2
H
Halictus, 176, 178
Haricot bean, the, 282-9
Haricot-Weevil, the, _see_ Weevil
Heredia, J.-M. de, 287-90
Hydnocystus, a fungus, 228
Hymenoptera, habits of, 137-8, 150, 162, 171-2, 175-6
L
La Fontaine, fable of the Cigale and the Ant, 3
Locust, Grey, the, 300-16
Larva of, 300
Metamorphosis of, 300-9
Wing, formation of, 309-15
M
Mantis, the _Empusa pauperata_, 97
Mantis, the Grey, 96
Mantis, the Praying, 68-101
Cannibalism of, 82-5
Courtship, 79-83
Hunter, as, 68-78
Nest of, 86-101
_Melolontha fullo_, _see_ Pine-chafer
Minotaur, 225
O
Oak Eggar, the, 202-16, 234-7
Experiments as to sense of smell in males, 208-15
Swarming of males during the mating season, 204-15
Odynerus, 150-1, 172
Osmia tricornis, 173, 175
P
Pea, ancestry of the, 258-9
Pea-Weevil, _see_ Weevil
Peacock Moth, the Great, 179-201, 234-7
Appearance of, 179
Experiments as to sense of smell in males, 184-97
Invasion of house by males, 180-1
Swarming of males, 181-3
Peacock Moth, the Lesser, 197-201
Phalangist, the, 225
_Philanthus aviporus_, 150-178
Cocoon of, 168
Diet of, 150-1
Larvæ of, 168
Methods of killing and robbing bees, 151-160
Motives of robbery, 163-78
Nest of, 167
_Philanthus coronatus_, 178
_Philanthus raptor_, 178
Pine-chafer, the, 317-23
Appearance of, 320
Cry of, 322-3
Habits of, 321
Medical qualities of, supposed, 318-19
Name, origin of Latin, 317-18
Pliny, on the Pine-chafer, 318-19
S
Saprinidæ, victims of arum, 233
Sapromyzon, the, 222
Scarabæus, _see_ Golden Scarabæus
Scent in Insects, _see_ Peacock Moth,
Oak Eggar, Bolboceras Gallicus, arum, putrid
Scolia, 171
Sisyphus, legend of, 139
Sisyphus Beetle, the, 136-49
Burrow of, 143
Larva of, 147-9
Mating of, 142-3
Paternal instinct of 142-6
Pellet of, 142-9
T
Tachytus, 172
_Tigno_, nest of Mantis, 99-101
Truffle-Beetle, 222
Truffle-Dog, 218-20
W
Weevil, Acorn, _see_ Elephant-Beetle
Weevil, the Lentil, 291
Weevil, the Haricot, 282-94
Habits of, 291-6
Invasion of, 284
Larvæ, 297-9
Weevil, the Pea, 258-81, 295
Description of, 261
Enemy, its chief, 280-1
Habits, 261-5
(Deductions to be drawn from), 273-4
Larvæ of, 268-71, 275-6
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: Whether the Cigale is absolutely deaf or not, it is certain
that one Cigale would be able to perceive another's cry. The vibrations
of the male Cigale's cry would cause a resonance, a vibration, in the
body cavities of other male Cigales, and to a lesser extent in the
smaller cavities in the bodies of the females. Other sounds would cause
a slight shock, if loud enough, but not a perceptible vibration May not
this vibration--felt as in a cathedral we feel the vibrations of the
organ-pipes in the bones of the chest and head or on the covers of the
hymn-book in our hands--serve to keep the insects together, and enable
the females to keep within sight of the males? The sight of an insect is
in one sense poor--it consists of a kind of mosaic picture, and for one
insect to distinguish another clearly the distance between them must not
be very great. Certain gregarious birds and fish whose colouring is
protective have a habit of showing their white bellies as they swerve on
changing their direction. These signals help to keep the flock together.
The white scut of the rabbit and of certain deer is a signal for other
deer or rabbits to follow a frightened flock. It is obviously to the
advantage of the Cigale to follow a gregarious habit, if only for
purposes of propagation, for this would be facilitated by the sexes
keeping together, and, deaf or otherwise, the vibrations of its cry
would enable it to do so. It would be easy to show _a priori_ that the
perception of such vibrations must cause the insect pleasure, as they
stimulate a nervous structure attuned to the perception or capable of
the production of certain complex vibrations. The discord of the cry is
caused by the fact that it consists of a number of vibrations of
different pitch. Some would set the contents of the male resonating
cavities in vibration; others would affect the less regular cavities in
the thorax of the female. We might compare the Cigale's cry to a
sheep-bell. That it is felt and not heard explains its loudness and its
grating quality. A Cigale with the resonating cavities destroyed would
possibly be lost. The experiment is worth trying.--[TRANS.]]
[Footnote 2: It is not easy to understand why the Mantis should paralyse
the cricket with terror while the latter will immediately escape when
threatened by other enemies. As many species of Mantis exactly mimic
sticks and leaves when motionless for purposes of defence, is it not
possible that they mimic their surroundings for purposes of offence as
well? It is easy and natural to say that the Mantis presents a
terrifying aspect. It does to us, by association; but how can we say
that it represents anything of the sort to the probably hypnotic or
automatic consciousness of the cricket? What does it really represent,
as seen from below? A twig, terminating in a bud, with two branching
twigs growing from it, and a harmless nondescript fly or butterfly
perched on the back of it. The combination of a familiar sight and a
threatening sound would very plausibly result in cautious immobility. As
for its instantaneous assumption of the pose, to move instantaneously is
the next best thing to not moving at all. It is less likely to startle
than a slow movement. Twigs which have been bent get suddenly released
in the natural course of events; they do not move slowly. The
instantaneous appearance of a twig where no twig was before may possibly
give the victim pause; it may halt out of caution, not out of
terror.--[TRANS.]]
[Footnote 3: The word "butterfly" is here used, as is the French
_papillon_, as a general term for all Lepidoptera; the insect in
question is of course a moth.]
[Footnote 4: Now classified as _Lasiocampa quercus_.--[TRANS.]]
[Footnote 5: _Rabasso_ is the Provençal name for the truffle; hence a
truffle-hunter is known as a _rabassier_.]
[Footnote 6: Since these lines were written I have found it consuming
one of the true tuberaceæ, the _Tuber Requienii_, Tul., of the size of a
cherry.]
[Footnote 7: The difficulty in conceiving this theory lies in the fact
that the waves travel in straight lines. On the other hand, matter in a
state of degradation may expel particles highly energised and of
enormous velocity. Most antennæ are covered with hairs of inconceivable
fineness; others may contain cavities of almost infinite minuteness. Is
it not thinkable that they are able to detect, in the gaseous
atmosphere, floating particles that are not gaseous? This would not
prevent the specialisation of antennæ as mere feelers in some insects
and crustaceans. The difficulty of such a supposition lies in the
fact of discrimination; but if we did not possess a sense of taste or
smell discrimination would seem inconceivable in their case
also.--[TRANS.]]
[Footnote 8: This classification is now superseded; the Pea and Bean
Weevils--_Bruchus pisi_ and _Bruchus lenti_--are classed as Bruchidæ, in
the series of Phytophaga. Most of the other weevils are classed as
Curculionidæ, series Rhyncophora.--[TRANS.]]
[Footnote 9: The Christmas number (_Noël_) of the _Annales politiques
et littéraires: Les Enfants jugés par leurs pères_, 1901.]
[Footnote 10: The American usage is to call acridians grasshoppers and
Locustidæ locusts. The English usage is to call Locustidæ grasshoppers
and acridians locusts. The Biblical locust is an acridian.]
Demy 8vo, Cloth, 10/6 net
FABRE: POET OF SCIENCE
By G. V. LEGROS
With a Photogravure Frontispiece
This biography is based upon long acquaintance and access to family
letters, and is a striking record of a wonderful life.
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End of Project Gutenberg's Social Life in the Insect World, by J. H. Fabre