INTRODUCTION. W 



mealy bugs, and tlic like, that suck the juices of plants, and require the 

 greatest care and watchfulness on our part to keep them in check. 



4. — Niu-ROPTKRA (Drai^on-flirs, Lare-trin<^cd Jlies ; May-Jlies^ 

 Ant-lion^ Brnj-jlij, While ants, t^^r.). Insects with jaws, four 

 netted wings, of which the hinder ones are the lari^est, and no 

 sting or piercer. Transformation complete, or partiid. Larva 

 and pnpa various. 



The white ants, wood-lice, and wood-ticks {Tcrmitidce and Psocidcc), 

 the latter including also the little ominous death-watch, are almost the 

 only noxious insects in the order, and even these do not injure living 

 plants. The dragon-flies, or, as they are commonly called in this 

 country, devil's needles {Lihelluladcp)^ prey upon gnats and mosquitos ; 

 and their larvae and pupa-, as well as those of the day-flies (Ephemcradcs), 

 semblians {SembUdidcc), and those of some of the May-flies, called 

 cadis-worms (Phnjganeadcc), all of which live in the water, devour 

 aquatic insects. The predaceous habits of the ant-lions {Mijrmeleon- 

 tidcB) have been often described. The lace-winged flies {Hejiierobiada), 

 in the larva state, live wholly on plant-lice, great numbers of which they 

 destroy. The mantispians {31antispadff), and the scorpion-flies {Panor- 

 padce), are also predaceous insects. 



5. — Lepidoptera {Butterflies and Moths). Mouth with a 

 spiral sucking-tube; wings four, covered with branny scales. 

 Transformation complete. The larva? are caterpillars, and 

 have six true legs, and from four to ten fleshy prop-legs. Pupa 

 with the cases of the Avings and of the legs indistinct, and 

 soldered to the breast. 



Some kinds of caterpillars are domestic pests, and devour cloth, wool, 

 furs, feathers, wax, lard, flour, and the like ; but by far the greatest 

 number live wholly on vegetable food, certain kinds being exclusively 

 leaf-eaters, while others attack the buds, fruit, seeds, bark, pith, stems, 

 and roots of plants. 



6. — Hymexoptera {Saw-flies, Ants, Wasps, Bees, Sf-c). In- 

 sects with jaws, four veined wings, in most species, the hinder 

 pair bejng the smallest, and a piercer or sting at the extremity 

 of the abdomen. Transformation complete. Larva> mostly 

 maggot-like, or slug-like ; of some, caterpillar-like. Pupae with 

 the legs and wings vmconfined. 



