. Insect transformations . verified, I)v thosewho will take the trouble of breeding the insects. The first we shall advert to is that of the chame- * l^oedartde Insoclis, 77. 292 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. leon fly {Stratiomys chameleon), whose singularlarva we formerly described.* When this draws nearthe period of its transformation, it leaves the water,betaking itself to the adjacent bank, or to the plantswhich Boat on the water, creeping up so as to leaveonly a part of its tail submersed. In this positionit remains, contracting itself by degrees in a mannerscarcely perceivable, and losing all
. Insect transformations . verified, I)v thosewho will take the trouble of breeding the insects. The first we shall advert to is that of the chame- * l^oedartde Insoclis, 77. 292 INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. leon fly {Stratiomys chameleon), whose singularlarva we formerly described.* When this draws nearthe period of its transformation, it leaves the water,betaking itself to the adjacent bank, or to the plantswhich Boat on the water, creeping up so as to leaveonly a part of its tail submersed. In this positionit remains, contracting itself by degrees in a mannerscarcely perceivable, and losing all power of loco-motion. The internal portion of the tail at the sametime separates gradually and insensibly from theexterior skin, becoming greatly contracted; and, ga-thering into three or four curvatures, the extremity isthereby left empty. Into this space the air penetratesand soon tills the place previously occupied by thebody, which is now contracted to one-third of itsformer size. When the air is prevented by too much. A, Pupa of chameleon fly, with Ihe lid of the pupariura , the same inagiiified, nnil tliu i)iipuiiuni laid open to show theembryo fly. C, the ciiiljiyo lly iiKigiiified -.—an, antennas; b b,the eyes; c, sucker; d d, lirst jiair of ; i <, second pair;//, the wings folded up ; g h i, rings of the body ; /.• /,-, breath-ing-tubes. Page 156» FORM OF 293 moisture from entering and distending the skin, itshrivels up; but this occurs seldom. Itthe old skin,now become detached and forming a tubular enve-lope, be cut open, the pupa will be brought into view,exhibiting the parts of the future fly neatly foldeddown upon the body, as may be seen in the figure. This is one of the larv;c which Swammerdam ob-served to cast, along with its external skin, the liningof the intestines, and breathing-tubes hkewise, which,he remarks, is very singular, and amazingly showsthe miracles of God, teaching at the same tmie howthe former body is entirely cas
Size: 1831px × 1365px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookidinsecttransforma00inr, booksubjectinsects
