Elementary studies in insect life Elementary studies in insect life elementarystudie00hunt Year: 1902 Ol'K Kill ENDS AND FOES 119 CHAPTER VIII OUR FRIENDS AND FOES OT every one, indeed, is aware of tlie fact that insects fill an important part in the economy of nature. We receive direct benefits as well as material in- juries from insects, and it is within the province of entomology to distin- guish the character of the insects. As scavengers, as fertilizers of vegetables and fruits, or as food for other animals, they not only concern man, hut, philosophically considered, certain insects a
Elementary studies in insect life Elementary studies in insect life elementarystudie00hunt Year: 1902 Ol'K Kill ENDS AND FOES 119 CHAPTER VIII OUR FRIENDS AND FOES OT every one, indeed, is aware of tlie fact that insects fill an important part in the economy of nature. We receive direct benefits as well as material in- juries from insects, and it is within the province of entomology to distin- guish the character of the insects. As scavengers, as fertilizers of vegetables and fruits, or as food for other animals, they not only concern man, hut, philosophically considered, certain insects are seen to be essential to his very existence. From them we receive our sweetest of sweets, several inks and dyes, our finest of tapestries, a number of acids of chemical value, and laces and waxes of mercantile worth. That, we receive injuries, no one needs to be told. In nature the term ' friend ' is a relative one. From the standpoint of the tree-grower, the caterpillar of the handmaid moth, which deprives the young trees of their foliage, is an enemy. Dame Xature, however, is as much interested in the welfare of the caterpillar as she is in the advancement of the tree or even of its owner. The caterpillar has as much right to the tree as has the fruit-grower. A review of biologic time, however, shows that it was not Nature's intention that one form of life should predominate at the expense <if another. ISTature endeavors to maintain an equilibrium between plant and
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