INSECTS FORETELL THE WEATHER.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

INSECTS FORETELL THE WEATHER.

; A close observer might with safety foretell the conditions; of the weather soveral days in advance by watching carefully the conduct .of animals as they are very sensitive to barometrt; " cal variations.' M. Fabre, a French entomologist gives BeveralJUußtratlons, one - befng a cortain caterpillar. It lives in colonies in pine trees, enveloping the branches with a web; in the shelter of which it may devour .tho leaves. These caterpillars never go out of their own nests except at night. When they do not thus leave their tents there is certainly a barometrical depression. Many instances are given in which thoy.havo foretold Btormß. | Another interesting' barometric animal Is the geotrop, ono of the largest insect',, M, Fabre has studied the geotrop by raising some of them In an aviary. These insects also do not leave their burrows .until after tho sun sets, when and only if the weather is suitable. When the conditions of the skj seem to predict a flne« to-morrow {the geotrops are sometimes oi another opinion, and It is" proved that the Insect by the subtlety of its impressions haa. loreseen-scented the Bhowcr-for the rain surely cornea during the night, .Again, at times, when there is every appearance of rain, the insects come but, and their forecast is 1 correct, v The sun rises radiantly next morning, M, Fabre gives many other analogous observations concerning signals of storms given by animals.