Part II The Larva
Chapter I.—The Young Larva.—Affection of a Field-Bug—An Earwig Mother—Anecdote of a Spider—Ant-Nurses—Varieties of Larvæ—The Larva born—Forms of Larvæ—Larvæ of Butterflies—Structure of a Larva
Chapter II.—Habits of the Larva.—The Lion of the Aphides—its Courage—The Ant-Lion—The “Giant Grim” of Insects—Formation of its Trap—An Insect Excavator—The Den—A Stone in it—A captive Ant—Principle of Compensation—The Sand-Wasp’s Den—A Warrior-Wasp—An Insect Duel—The Kakerlac and the Bandit Wasp—The Corpse carried home—A Wasp clad in the Wings and Limbs of Insects—The Tiger Beetle Larva—Dragon-Fly Larva—its curious Mask—a ferocious creature—Ravages of Cockchafer Larvæ—Lamp Oil got from Larvæ—“Old Father Long-legs”—The Gamma Moth and its Larva—Magical Origin of—The excessive numbers of the Larvæ—Destruction of Trees by Larvæ—Killed by rain—The Weevil—Insects on board Ship—Appetite of Larvæ—Silk-Worm Larva—Larvæ enormous Eaters—Growth of Larvæ
Chapter III.—Moulting of the Larva.—Escape of Larva from its old Skin—Arrangement of the Hairs—Danger attending the Moult—Colours of Larvæ—Influence of Sun-light—Curious appearance of the Coats of Larvæ—Larvæ like Twigs—Singularly coated Larva
Chapter IV.—Respiration of the Larva.—Experiment with Larvæ—Insects do not breathe by their Mouths—Breathing Mechanism of Larvæ—Spiracles—Aquatic Larvæ—Inhabitants of the Ditch and Pool—Rat-tailed Larvæ—Remarkable Organ—Chameleon-Fly Larva—Larva of the May-Fly—Their under-water Cells—Singular organs of Respiration—Complete Armour of Dragon-Ely Larva
Chapter V.—Means of Defence of the Larva.—Leaf-dwelling Larvæ—Larva clad in Rags—“Hickory-horned Devil”—Larva with a Squirt—Shaggy-coated Larvæ—Frozen Larvæ—Dwellings of Larvæ—Remarkable Australian Larva cases—Larvæ in Winter
Chapter VI.—Preparation for a Change.—Age of the Larva—its attempts at concealment—Cocoons of Larvæ—Silk-Worm Cocoon—Extraordinary precaution of a Larva—Case of Bark-skin—Anecdote of a Larva—Suspension of the Larva, horizontally and perpendicularly—Larva of Meat-Fly—Last action of the Larva