274 



ORDER LEPIDOPTERA. 



(Butterflies and Moths.) 



(Plates 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39.) 



Characteristics. 1. Insects with two pairs of wings 

 covered with modified hairs in the form of flat 

 scales (Plate 36, Fig. 4). These are very beautiful 

 when seen under the microscope and resemble petals 

 of flowers. 



2. Tlie mouth parts (Plate 38, Figs, 5, 6 and 7) are 

 modified to form a sucking tube more or less long. 

 This can be coiled up like a watch-spring and fitted 

 into a socket in front and on the under surface of the 

 liead. It is in the form of two half -tubes which fit 

 together. Each half-tube has a strong supporting 

 area; also a groove on the inner side (Plate 38, Fig. 

 7). The grooves fit to form a long tube. 



3. The metamorphosis is complete or perfect. 

 Butterflies and moths differ in certain details and 



can be classified on these differences into two 

 groups : — 



1. Rhopalocera (Butterflies). 2. Heterocera 

 (Moths). These two groups are not distinct, there 

 being intermediate types which have some of the 

 characters of each group. 



Butterflies have the antennas more or less thick- 

 ened at or before their terminations (Plate 35, Fig. 

 3). A more or less narrow waist or constriction 

 exists between the thorax and abdomen. Then, 



