8 



METHODS OF INSECT LIFE. 



Larrais a Latin word, meaning a ghost or phantom, 

 and was applied by Linnseus to the first stage of 

 insect-life, from an idea of this being a kind of 

 phantom-like shadowing-out of the real or complete 

 state. It is a very fanciful idea ; but the term larva 

 having been adopted for the first stage of all insects, 

 we cannot help ourselves about it. 



Piq)a is a Latin word, describing young animals 

 not yet complete in their organisation ; therefore it is 

 very suitable to the state in which the complete insect 

 is forming. This stage is also often known, especially 

 in Butterflies and Moths, as the chrysalis state, from 





Fig. 7. — Maggot and pujsa of Cockchafer. 



a Greek word, signifying golden, some chrysalids being 

 of a bright gold-colour. 



Imago is the Latin for an image, or representation, 

 and is used for any kind of insect in its complete state, 

 — a Fly, or a Beetle, or a Grasshopper, for instance, 

 is an imago. 



Any insect in its first state is a Larva, anj'- insect 

 in its second state is a Pupa or Chri/saUs, and any 

 insect in its third state is an Imago. Thus the regular 

 order of the progress of insect-life is — 1st, larv(e 

 hatched from eggs, or produced alive ; 2ndly, papce, 

 in which state the larvfe change to their full powers ; 

 8rdly, imagos, that is, insects in their perfect state, 

 in which they usually have wings. 



If we now trace these changes forward from the 

 beginning, we shall be able to prove them for our- 

 selves, as a matter of living serviceable fact, which 

 may be given as solid instruction where needed, and 



