. 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. culty in seizing very active insects which comeswimming along, for the larvae and nymphs have a mostremarkable weapon in their lower lip. The lip is very long, andhas palps formed in the shape of pincers. It is attached to thechin, which is also very long
. 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. culty in seizing very active insects which comeswimming along, for the larvae and nymphs have a mostremarkable weapon in their lower lip. The lip is very long, andhas palps formed in the shape of pincers. It is attached to thechin, which is also very long, by a .sort of hinge, which allows it torest against the under part of the body when the insect is the larva is looking out for prey ; it remains perfectlyquiet until some small insect passes by at what might be con-sidered a safe distance, but the victim has not calculated upon thehidden weapon which is suddenly straightened and poked forwardand which clasps the unfortunate with its pincers. The larvje andthe nymphs, although they live under water and must respire, haveno branchiae or any external organs by which they can method of respiration is unique ; they breathe with theirintestines. The large intestine is covered with numerous tracheal,and when the animal wishes . to breathe it opens the orifice of. THE LIBELULA. 157 the intestine and admits a quantity of water. This, of course^contains air mechanically suspended, which is taken up thetracheae just mentioned. Curiously enough, these insects, whichwalk very slowly, manage to get out of the way of enemies byexpelling the water in their intestine with considerable violence,and this projects them to some distance. When about to undergo its transformation the nymph leavesthe water and crawls upon plants by the side. Then the skindries, splits, and sets the perfect insect free. The larva? live
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubj, booksubjectcrustacea
