68 



GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



Fig. 



When 

 moths 



be caterpillars. Most of them 

 have three pairs of legs less 

 than other caterpillars, so that 

 a looping gait is the result, 

 whence the name "measuring 

 worms." They have the habit, 

 when disturbed, of dropping to 

 the ground on a silken thread, 

 which they spin as they fall. 

 Definition of Lepidoptera ( Gr . 

 lepis (lepidos), "scale"; pte- 

 ron, "wing"). The butterflies, 

 skippers, and moths, collec- 

 tively, are spoken of as Lepi- 

 dop'tera. The Lepidoptera 

 have four large wings covered 

 with scales, sucking mouth 

 parts, and undergo a complete 

 metamorphosis. The larvae, 

 called caterpillars, with few 

 exceptions, feed upon the 

 leaves of plants. 



The butterflies and skippers 

 are active by day, and the 

 moths fly at night or in the 

 twilight. Most moths have 

 stout bodies and feather- 

 like antennae. Skippers have 

 antennae usually ending in an 

 enlarged hook-like tip. But- 

 terflies have enlarged knobs 

 at the tips of the antennae, 

 at rest, butterflies usually hold their wings erect, and 

 more commonly fold them against the body. 



46. Measuring worms. 

 (Natural size) 



