. The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea) : being an adaptation, for English readers, of M. Émile Blanchard's "Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insects;" and a compilation from the works of Newport, Charles Darwin, Spence Bate, Fritz Müller, Packard, Lubbock, Stainton, and others. of the spiracles and the expansion of theair within the tubes, due to muscular efforts and the alteration inthe bulk of the insect. Half an hour after the transformation thetracheae which ramified over the gullet are enlarged to doubletheir former size, a
. The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea) : being an adaptation, for English readers, of M. Émile Blanchard's "Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insects;" and a compilation from the works of Newport, Charles Darwin, Spence Bate, Fritz Müller, Packard, Lubbock, Stainton, and others. of the spiracles and the expansion of theair within the tubes, due to muscular efforts and the alteration inthe bulk of the insect. Half an hour after the transformation thetracheae which ramified over the gullet are enlarged to doubletheir former size, and in forty-eight hours the vesicular structuresare all complete and ready for use. The side vesicles of the abdomen of the bee may be noticed inthe engraving on the next page, and the tracheae issuing from them. The respiration of the bee can be observed when it hasceased flying, and is at rest; then the muscles of the abdomenshorten the segments, and by relaxing allow them to lengthenagain. Air is thus pumped into the tracheae through the quiet, and especially if the temperature is low, insects E 2 52 TRANSFORM A TIONS OF INSFCTS. breathe very slowly. The energy and the rapidity of the respi-ratory efforts increase during any agitation. An insect may becrawling over the leaves, or upon the ground, with very little air. THE KESriRATORY APPARATUS OF THE liEE. (Magnified.) in its trachcc-E. Its body is heavy, and it could not fly unless itcontained more air ; so the insect lifts up its wings, and makesa few energetic movements of its abdomen, in order to fill thevesicles and tracheae to the utmost, and sails away. The long voyages of immense columns of locusts are well THE METAMORPHOSES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. 53 known ; but the indisposition of their alHes, the grasshoppers, tofly for any distance, is readily to be noticed by any one walkingin the fields. They will jump and fly for a few yards, but it isvery unusual to see them doing anything more. How, then
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjec, booksubjectcrustacea
