of the natural history of insects, were the means for obtaining information on this branch of science more generally diffused.

The plan of this Report, which I have now the honor of submitting, through you, to the people of this Commonwealth, was suggested by the foregoing considerations, by the want of a work on our native insects, combining scientific with practical details, and by the letter of instructions that accompanied my commission, wherein the economical advantages to be derived from an investigation of the natural history of this State, were particularly pointed out as objects of attention. A large amount of the materials, made use of in this work, was collected many years ago, at comparatively little cost; but, after entering on my official duties, I was obliged to procure, at an expense far exceeding the compensation allowed me, a great number of books, in order to make myself acquainted with the discoveries and improvements in entomology therein set forth. In some cases I have had to rely on the recorded observations of others, for the want of an opportunity to make the necessary investigations myself. The many applications, which I have made to various persons, for information respecting our destructive insects, have rarely brought me any satisfactory replies. The greater part of my first report, which was presented to the Legislature, in the year 1838, has been embodied in this, in order to afford a connected view of the whole subject. From among the numerous insects which are injurious to plants, I have selected for description chiefly those which are remarkable for their size, for the peculiarity of their structure and habits, or for the extent of their ravages; and these, alone, will be seen to constitute a formidable host.

You have already looked over a considerable part of the manuscript, and have been pleased to express a favorable opinion of it. Should it prove as satisfactory to you and to the public, in its present form, the time and labor, bestowed upon it, will not have been spent in vain,

By your friend and servant,

THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS.

Cambridge, December 1, 1841.

CONTENTS.

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INTRODUCTION.

The word Insect defined, — Brain and nerves, — Air-pipes and Breathing-

holes,-Heart and Blood, 4. Insects are produced from Eggs, - Meta-

morphoses,-Examples of Complete Transformation, 5.- Partial Trans-

formation, 6. — Larva or Infant State, Pupa or Intermediate State, Adult,

or Winged State, 7.- Head, Eyes, Antennæ, and Mouth, 8.-Thorax or

Chest, Wings and Legs, Abdomen or Hind-body, 9.- Piercer, and

Sting, - Number of Insects compared with Plants, - Classification, Or-

ders, Coleoptera, 10.-Orthoptera, Hemiptera, 11.- Neuroptera, Lepi-

doptera, 12.- Hymenoptera, 13.- Diptera, 14.- Other Orders and

Groups, 17.- Remarks on Scientific Names, 19.

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COLEOPTERA.

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Beetles, Scarabæians, 21.- Ground-Beetles, Tree-Beetles, 22. — Cock-

chafers or May-Beetles, 23.-Flower-Beetles, 35.- Stag-Beetles, 38.—

Buprestians, or Saw-horned Borers, 40. - Spring-Beetles, 46. — Timber-

Beetles, 51.- Weevils, 53. — Cylindrical Bark-Beetles, 71. — Capricorn-

Beetles, or Long-horned Borers, 77.-Leaf-Beetles, 94.-Criocerians, 95

-Leaf-mining Beetles, 97.- Tortoise-Beetles, 98. - Chrysomelians, 99.

-Cantharides, 109.

ORTHOPTERA.

Structure and Transformations, 114.—Earwigs, 116. — Cockroaches, 118.

-Mantes, or Soothsayers, 118.-Walking-leaves, Spectres, - Crick-

ets, 119. Mole-Cricket, 120.- Field-Crickets, 121.- Climbing-Crick-

et, 123.
- Cucumber Skippers, 125.- Grasshoppers, 125. - Awl-Bearer,

or wingless Cricket, 126. — Katy-did, 127.- Locusts, or flying Grass-

hoppers, 132.

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HEMIPTERA.

Bugs, 156. — Squash-Bug, 158. — Plant-Bugs, 160.— Harvest-Flies, 164. —

Cicadas, 165.-Tree-Hoppers, 177.-Leaf-Hoppers, 182.-Vine-Hop-

per, 183.—Bean-Hopper, 185.-Aphidians, 186.— Thrips, Plant-Lice, 187.

- American Blight, 193.- Enemies of Plant-Lice, 196. — Bark-Lice, 198.

LEPIDOPTERA.

Caterpillars, 206.- Butterflies, 209.- Skippers, 222. - Hawk-Moths, 225.

Egerians, or Boring Caterpillars, 230.-Glaucopidians, 236.-Moths, 237.

- Spinners, 239.-Lithosians, 240.-Tiger-Moths, and Ermine-Moths,

242.- Tussock-Moths, 258. - Lackey-Moths, 265.- Lappet-Moths, 272.

-Saturnians, 276.-Ceratocampians, 287.- Carpenter-Moths, 295.-

- Psychians, 297.- Notodontians, 301.-Owl-Moths, 315.- Spindle-

Worms, 318.—Cut-Worms, 321. - Geometers or Span-Worms, 330.

Canker-Worms, 332. — Delta-Moths, 343. Leaf Rollers, 346. — Bud-

Moths, 348.Fruit-Moths, 351. Tineæ, 355.- Bee-Moths, 357.—

Clothes-Moths, 360. Grain-Moths, 363.- Feather-winged Moths, 368.

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HYMENOPTERA.

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Stingers and Piercers, 369. Habits of some of the Hymenopterous In-

sects, 370.

- Saw-Flies, 371.- False Caterpillars and Slugs, 373. — Elm

Saw-Fly, 374. Fir Saw-Fly, 375.- Vine Saw-Fly, 378.-Rose-bush

Slug, 380.-Pear-tree Slug, 382. — Horn-tailed Wood-Wasps, 386.--

Four-winged Gall-Flies, 395.

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DIPTERA.

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Gnats and Flies, 401.- Maggots, and their Transformations, 402. — Club-

footed Gnat, 404.- Snow-Gnat, 404.— Black Fly, Midges, 405. - Horse-

Flies, 405. Bec-Flies, 406.- Asilians, 407.- Soldier-Flies, 408.

Syrphians, 409.- Conopians, 410.- Parasitical Flies, Viviparous Flesh-

Flies, 411. Piercing Stable-Flies, Meat-Flies, and House-Flies, 412.

-Flower-Flies, 414.- Two-winged Gall-Flies, and Fruit-Flies, 416.

Oscinians, 417.- Bot-Flies, 418.- Bird-Flies, and Spider-Flies, 420.

Flea, 421. — Gall-Gnats, 421. — Hessian Fly, 422. Barley-Fly, 433.

Wheat-Fly, 437.—Wheat-Thrips, 444. — Wheat-Worm, Grain-Worm,

or Wheat-Caterpillar, 445.

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A

REPORT

ON THE

INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS

INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION.

BY

THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS, M. D.

1