The Insect Folk

Dragon-flies, katydids, the funny back-swimmers and little Mrs. Shore Bug — Morley walks children through the insect world by asking them to go and LOOK: “books will help you, but you must watch, too.”

This site is the complete 1903 book The Insect Folk, page by page as originally printed — period spelling, remedies and opinions included. About this edition →

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A Word to the Children

DEAR CHILDREN, - The very best way to know the insects is to go and watch them. Watch them whenever you can, and each time you will find…

The Ravenous Chinch Bugs

2 pages

Our Pretty Dragon Flies

3 pages

The Fairy May Flies

2 pages

Dragon Fly Wings

Richard asks, "Where do May flies come from?

The Stone Fly Folk

What do you think he caught?

The Silver Fish

MAY has something here for us to look at. She says have it in that little box. See, the box has a glass top. May cut the top off the box…

The Old Cockroaches

2 pages

Neighbor Walking Stick

ISN'T this a pretty place to sit down and - "Ouch! ow! ow! ow!"

The Grasshopper Tribes

10 pages

The Shorthorned Grasshoppers

They have no horns, of course, but some have short antennæ that stick out like little horns, and those we call shorthorned.

The Longhorned Grasshoppers

Probably it was the longhorned grasshoppers that Charlie saw so many of in the meadow.

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Highlights

The Grasshopper Tribes (DON'T you often wonder where)

DON'T you often wonder where they come from?

The Great Bug Family (Put it in this tumbler)

Put it in this tumbler of water, and clap the cover over it - - now we have it. so! quick What is that, Mollie? I just said bugs…

The Odd Spittle Insect

WHY, little Nell! What is the matter?

Neighbor Walking Stick

ISN'T this a pretty place to sit down and - "Ouch! ow! ow! ow!"

Our Pretty Dragon Flies

Come to a pond I know of.

Friend Cicada

May says she wishes that locust would keep quiet.

Curious Facts

17 genuinely curious things this book actually says, each linked to its page.

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66Chapters
1903Year
80Pages
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Rights & ReuseThe complete text of The Insect Folk (1903) is in the public domain in the United States — like all works published before 1928 — and is free to read, download, quote, teach from, and reuse. This digital edition (its transcription, restored images, and site design) is © 2026 PhotoOpAI, and any editorial commentary we add is clearly marked as ours; the underlying public-domain text carries no such restriction.