CHATTKR VIII. 



LEPIDOPTEIiA. 



The Lejndojjtera form one of the largest orders of insects 

 including a great number of subdivisions and including 

 some of the most brilliant forms and some of the extremes in 

 size — moths, butterflies, etc. They are separated from all 

 other insects by the mouth structure, it being adapted for 

 lapping up nectar of flowers and this structure being devel- 

 oped largely from the maxillae, the parts being elongated 



MESOTHORflK 

 M£TATHOR/iK \ 



P/KlTMOfAX 



Fig. 159. — Tomato worm (larva of Phletjethontius 5-maculata), showing 

 structure of lepidopterous larvae. (Drawn by J. I. Hambleton /) 



and extended for some lengtli when in use and when not 

 in use folded up like a watch spring. Some forms have 

 remnants of rudimentary mandibles but in most cases these 

 cannot be found. When they occur the mouth parts seem to 

 be in their general structure related to the Trichoptera. 

 The larvse are all mandibulate. Another distinctive character 

 is the complete covering of body and wings with minute 

 scales. 



The Lepidoj)iera show quite extreme condition in meta- 

 morphosis. The larvae are known as caterpillars. They 

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