University of Tasmania
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Plants as insect destroyers

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posted on 2023-11-22, 07:59 authored by William Webb Spicer
Being much attached to Botany, and, in a less degree perhaps to Entomology, I have put together a few notes, bearing upon both these sciences, and bringing before you one out of the many points, at which the two great families of plants and insects cross each other's paths— one, it must be added, in which the latter get decidedly the worst of it. We all know, to what an enormous extent insects are dependent on plants for support. In the supply both of food and protection Flora proves herself a veritable mother to her humble friends. But there is a dark side in the character of even this gentle deity, whom we are apt to associate with all that is cheerful and smiling; and it is astonishing to see in how many ways and under what different aspects she puts forth her "insecticidal" functions. Directly or indirectly the members of the Vegetable Kingdom help largely to thin the ranks of the little creatures which visit them.

History

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Papers & Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of Tasmania

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81-91

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In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania..

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