Wooden Caterpillar.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1829, 12 September 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

Wooden Caterpillar.

$- . The Growth of What May Be Called the Oddest of Insects. The oddest insect in existence— so odd that Gnlssa it were vouched for and explained Boientifioall.v would be considered a hoax— is the aweto. It ia not easy to decide whether it ought to be classed under the fauna or flora of New v Zealand, for it 10 as much vegetable as animal, and, in final stage, it is a vegetable, and nothing else. This is the vegetable caterpillar, called by naturalists Uipidis viraccm. It is a perfect caterpillar, and a fine one also, growing to three and a half inches. Until it is full grown it conducts itself very much, like any other insect, exoept that it is never found anywhere but in the neighborhood of the rata tree, a large Boarjet-flowered myrtle, and that ii habitually buries itself a few inches underground. Then, when the aweto is fully grown, it undergoes a wonderful change. For some inexplicable reason, the spore of a vegetable fungus, the Spa-Ma Robert ni, fixes itself directly on its neck, takes root and grows, like a diminutive bulrush, from bix to ten inches high, without leaves, and with a dark brown head. This stem penetrates the earth o?er y the caterpillar, and stands up a few inches above the ground. The root grows simultaneously into the body of tho oaterpniar, which ?t exactly fills in every part, without altering its form in the slightest degree, but simply Bubstituting a vegetable substance for an animal substance; As soon as this process is completed, both the caterpillar and fungus die, and become dry and hard but without shrivelling at all. The thing is then a wooden oaterpillar, so to say, with a wooden bulrush standing up from its neck. Papier mache, perhaps, would better describe it than wood. It can be takan out of tba ground entire, and preserved for any time. 'Where the aweto is foncd many specimens can be obtained. It is a light green when alive, and the Maoris eat it in its soft state when it resembles marrow. When dry, they powder it for use as a flesh dye ia tattooing. -. It is certain that the caterpillar and fungus were made for eacli other, as the HipiaUs virescens is never found without Splmria Robertsii growing out of it, and Spharia . Robertsii is never found without this caterpillar with it. .

If people worked as hard after marriage to keep eaoh other as they did before the engagement to win eaoh other, marriage , woald be more of a success. Thi world is getting on towards six o'olooSc in the morning, instead of six o'clock in the evening. The afleoting 0! virtue will not prevent tbe consciousness of the deception. When ft man feels wise it is a sure sign that he is net the man. - A man who Jakes care of his youth is apt to be a wise old man.