Common objects of the microscope

by J. G. Wood

Plate VIII. Fig. [1], exemplifies the manner in which the muscles of insects do their work, being well attached in the limbs to the central tendon, and pulling “with a will” in one direction, thus giving very great strength. This leg is taken from the water boatman (Notonecta), and has been mounted in Canada balsam.

On Plate VII. Fig. [29], may be seen a curiously formed creature. This is the larva of the tortoise beetle (Cássida), the skin having been flattened and mounted in Canada balsam. The spiracles are visible along the sides, and at the end is seen a dark fork-like structure. This is one of the peculiarities of this creature, and is employed for the purpose of carrying the refuse of its food, which is always piled upon its back, and retained in its place by the forked spines, aided probably by the numerous smaller spines that project from the side.

Fig. [33] shows part of the stomach and gastric teeth of the grasshopper. This structure may be seen to perfection in the “gizzard,” as it is called, of the great green locust of England (Ácrida viridíssima). The organ looks like a sudden swelling of the œsophagus, and when slit longitudinally under water, the teeth may be seen in rows set side by side, and evidently having a great grinding power. The common house cricket has a similar organ of remarkable beauty. Just above (Fig. [27]) is the corresponding structure in the hive bee, three of the teeth being shown separately at Fig. [28].

We now cast a rapid glance at the wings of insects.

They have no analogy, except in their use, with the wings of birds, as they are not modifications of existing limbs, but entirely separate organs. They consist of two membranes united at their edges, and traversed and supported by sundry hollow branches or “nervures,” which admit air, and serve as useful guides to entomologists for separating the insects into their genera. Indeed, the general character of the wings has long been employed as the means of dividing the insect race into their different orders, as may be seen in any work on entomology. The typical number of wings is four, but it often happens that two are almost wholly absent, or that the uppermost pair are thickened into a shelly kind of substance which renders them useless for flight; while in many insects, such as the ground beetles and others, the upper wings become hardened into firm coverings for the body, and the lower pair are shrivelled and useless.

Fig. [22] shows two of the wings of a humble bee, together with their nervures, and the peculiar system by which the upper and lower pair are united together at the will of the insect. At the upper edge of the lower wing, and nearly at its extremity, may be seen a row of very tiny hooks, shown on a larger scale at Fig. [25]. These hooklets hitch into the strengthened membrane of the upper wing, which is seen immediately above them, and so conjoin the two together. The curious wing-hooks of the Aphis may be seen on Fig. [24], very highly magnified.

Fig. [31] is the wing of the midge (Psychóda), that odd little insect which is seen hopping and popping about on the windows of outhouses and similar localities, and is so hard to catch. The whole wing is plentifully covered with elongated scales, and is a most lovely object under any power of the microscope. These scales run along the nervures and edges of the wings, and part of a nervure is shown more highly magnified at Fig. [32].

At Fig. [23] is shown the wing of one of the hemipterous insects, common along the banks of ditches and in shady lanes, and known by the name of Cíxius. It is remarkable for the numerous spots which stud the nervures, one being always found at each forking, and the others being very irregularly disposed.

Fig. [30] is one of the balancers or “haltéres” of the house-fly. These organs are found in all the two-winged insects, and are evidently modifications of the second pair of wings. They are covered with little vesicles, and protected at their base by scales. Some writers suppose that the sense of smell resides in these organs. Whatever other purpose they may serve, they clearly aid in the flight, as, if the insect be deprived of one or both of the balancers, it has the greatest difficulty in steering itself through the air.