Order LEPIDOPTERA 



This order contains the butterflies and the moths which are characterized by the fact 

 that the wings are covered with scales overlapping like shingles on a roof. The butterflies 

 are all day fliers and by their bright colours and beautiful markings are among the most 

 attractive things in nature as they flit from flower to flower. The moths, for the most part, 

 are nocturnal. They have two pairs of wings both used in flight, and the mouth parts are 

 developed into a tube-shaped tongue, which is coiled up like a watch spring when not in use. 

 They can only take food in a liquid form. The metamorphosis is complete, the larvae being 

 known as caterpillars, in which stage the mouth parts are well adapted for chewing leaves, etc., 

 and as larvae alone can they be injurious to vegetation. 



The order is, for convenience, often divided into the Rhopalocera or Butterflies, known 

 by the club or knob on end of antennae, and by the wings, or at least the forewings, being held 

 erect while at rest; and the Heterocera or moths with filaform or feathered antennae, and the 

 wings held in various other ways, inclined like a roof, held flat over the body or expanded out 

 flat. Sometimes the Sphingidae or hawk moths are made an intermediate division, and the 

 "swift moths" Hepialidae might equally be put apart from others under the name Jugatae. 



Family PAPILIONIDAE 



The members of this family are known by the common name of Swallow-tails on account 

 of the tail-like extension of the hindwings. They are all butterflies of large size and conspicuous 

 colours and markings. The legs are all perfectly developed — the larvae are possessed of fleshy 

 extensile processes of a reddish-orange colour which, when distended, produce a disagreeable 

 odour, that is supposed to protect them from their foes; the pupae are suspended laterally by 

 a band of^silk around the middle as well as the usual button of silk at the anal extremity. 



Fig. 1. 

 Papilio (umw*. 



