380 INTBODUCTION TO 



which they pass the winter, and from which they reappear 

 with the return of warmth and sunshine. 



Classification of Insects. — Opinions of different writers 

 vary much as to the most desirable form, but the method 

 appears to be the most simple and comprehensive in which 

 they are divided into thirteen Orders, arranged according to 

 general similarity in the early stages, and also in the general 

 appearance of the perfect insects composing each Order ; 

 also according to the number or nature of their wings, or the 

 method in which they are folded beneath the wing-cases. 



In the following table the Orders are arranged accordingly 

 in the classification given in Prof. Westwood's ' Introduction 

 to Entomology,' these thirteen Orders being formed into two 

 great tribes of Mandihidala and HausteUata, according to 

 whether they feed by means of jaws (mandibles), as in the case 

 of Beetles, &c., or by means of some kind of sucker (haus- 

 tellum), as is the case with Butterflies, Aphides, &c. 



These Orders are placed in succession according to the 

 nearest resemblcince which the insects of one Order bear to the 

 one preceding or following; and the reader will notice that 

 the two last syllables of the name of each order are Ptcra, 

 meaning " wings," from the Greek word Ptcron, a wing. The 

 preceding part of the word signifies the nature of the wing. 



MANDIBULATA. 



CoLEOPTEKA. — Sbeatli-wiiiged. Beetles. 



EUPLEXOPTERA. — Tiglitly-folded winged. Earwigs. 



Orthoptera. — Straight-winged. Cockroaches, Crickets, Grass- 

 hoppers, &c. 



Thysanopteea. — Fringe-winged. Thrips. 



Neuroptera. — Nerve-winged. White Ants, May-flies, Dragon- 

 flies, &c. 



Trichoptera. — Hairy-winged. Caddice-flies. 



Hymenopteea. — Membrane-winged. Saw-flies, Gall-flies, Ichneu- 

 mon-flies, Ants, Wasps, Bees, &c. 



Strepsiptera. — Twisted-winged. Bee-parasites. 



HAUSTELLATA. 



Lepidoptera. — Scale-winged. Butterflies, Moths. 



HoMOPTEEA. — Similar-winged. LantLorn-flies, Cuckoo-spit Flies, 

 Aphides, Scale Insects, &c. 



Heteroptera. — Dissimilar-winged. Plant-bugs, &c, 



Aphaniptera. — Imperceptible-winged. Fleas. 



DiPTERA. — Two-winged. Gnats, Daddy Longlcgs, Gadflies, Bot- 

 flies, Flesh-flies, &c. 



