The Wasp — 1879 — page 158: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is **not a political cartoon** but rather a natural history article titled "Questions in Zoology, Defined" discussing insects, particularly beetles and wasps. The page includes three detailed illustrations of beetles (labeled Episode—Four, Episode—Fire, and Episode—Six) as part of an educational feature. The text humorously compares extinct prehistoric animals to contemporary insects, noting that beetles possess remarkable variety in form and appearance. It discusses the Cockchafer pest, the monotonous sound of insect wings, and beetles' behaviors—rolling dung balls, burying in earth, etc. The satirical angle appears mild: using insect behavior to make oblique social commentary about human labor and industry, though the primary purpose is naturalistic education rather than political satire.