On the Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects — John Shaqi
On the Origin and Metamorphoses of InsectsLubbock, John, Sir
Science
On the Origin and Metamorphoses of Insects
Lubbock, John, Sir
Insects; Insects -- Development
The insects forming the order Trichoptera are well known in their larval
condition, under the name of caddis worms. These larvæ are not
altogether unlike caterpillars in form, but they live in water—which is
the case with very few lepidopterous larvæ—and form for themselves
cylindrical cases or tubes, built up of sand, little stones, bits of
stick, leaves, or even shells. They generally feed on vegetable
substances, but will also attack minute freshwater animals. When full
grown, the larva fastens its case to a stone, the stem of a plant, or
some other fixed substance, and closes the two ends with an open grating
of silken threads, so as to admit the free access of water, while
excluding enemies. It then turns into a pupa which bears some
resemblance to the perfect insect, “except that the antennæ, palpi,
wings, and legs are shorter, enclosed in separate sheaths, and arranged
upon the breast.” The pupa remains quiet in the tube until nearly ready
to emerge, when it comes to the surface, and in some cases creeps out of
the water. It is not therefore so completely motionless as the pupæ of
Lepidoptera.
The Diptera, or Flies, comprise insects with two wings only, the hinder
pair being represented by minute club-shaped organs called “haltères.”
Flies quit the egg generally in the form of fat, fleshy, legless grubs.
They feed principally on decaying animal or vegetable matter, and are no
doubt useful as scavengers. Other species, as the gadflies, deposit
their eggs on the bodies of animals, within which the grubs feed, when
hatched. The mouth is generally furnished with two hooks which serve
instead of jaws. The pupæ of Diptera are of two kinds. In the true
flies, the outer skin of the full-grown larva is not shed, but contracts
and hardens, thus assuming the appearance of an oval brownish shell or
case, within which the insect changes into a chrysalis. The pupæ of the
gnats, on the contrary, have the limbs distinct and enclosed in sheaths.
They are generally inactive, but some of the aquatic species continue to
swim about.
One group of Flies, which is parasitic on horses, sheep, bats, and other
animals, has been called the Pupipara, because it was supposed that they
were not born until they had arrived at the condition of pupæ. They come
into the world in the form of smooth, ovate bodies, much resembling
ordinary dipterous pupæ, but as Leuckart has shown,[11] they are true,
though abnormal, larvæ.
The next order, that of the Aphaniptera, is very small in number,
containing only the different species of Flea. The larva is long,
cylindrical, and legless; the chrysalis is motionless, and the perfect
insect is too well known, at least, as regards its habits, to need any
description.
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