Rural School Leaflet 



1253 



Ihc insects emerge. \\'lieu this happens, the wasphkc parasites can be 

 released to continue their work against the tent caterpillars, and any 

 old cocoons and tent-caterpillar moths remaining can be destroyed. 



At best the effort that man makes to control insect pests would have 

 comparatively little effect if it were the only means of their destruction. 

 The natural enemies of insects do a tremendous work for the farmer, and 

 these beneficial fomis should be recognized and protected. 



Perhaps the most common mistake made by teachers in connection 

 with lessons on insects is in teaching the differences between moths and 

 butterflies, and the stages in the development of these insects. The 

 following will be helpful to those who have not the necessary knowledge for 

 giving accurate information on this subiect : 



^i 



Moth Butterfly 



period in its history the insect 



MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES 



The most important thing to remember in the stiidy of moths and 

 butterflies is that they appear in four different fonns during their lives. 

 These forms are the egg, the larva, the pupa, the adult. 



The egg. — The eggs are laid singly 

 or in clusters. The}' are usually 

 found on the plant that is the favorite 

 food of the young. The shining 

 masses of the eggs of the tent cater- 

 pillar may be found on the twigs of 

 apple and wild cherry trees. 



The larva. — The larva, or "worm," 

 hatches from the egg. During this 

 eats and grows. One of the most interesting things to notice in the study 

 of larv^, or caterpillars, is that as the insect grows it sheds its skin. 

 The pupa. — Of all the forms in which the moths and butterflies appear, 



the pupa is the strangest. Although 

 this period in the life of the insect is 

 spoken of as one of rest or sleep, it is 

 the time when the most wonderful 

 changes take place in its body. On 

 this page are shown the chrysalids 

 of a butterfly, the mourning cloak. 

 When the caterpillars are about to 

 shed their coats for the last time, 

 they hang themselves head downward 

 from a twig by means of a silken 

 button, which they spin. Then they cast off their skins, leaving the 

 chrysalids, or naked pupae, hanging; they are protected from birds and 



Chrysalids of the moiirning-cloah but- 

 terfly 



