12 PRELIMINARY ' EXERCISES 



markings on the abdomens, and compare. Note the size 

 of the wings, and compare. As a result of these compari- 

 sons, note that the wings and abdomens of these moths 

 are alike in size, shape, and color. Evidently, they are of 

 the same kind, simply two individuals of the same kind 

 of insect. There are many other individual tomato moths 

 in the world, all of which are of the same kind and are known 

 as a species. 



Examine two of the tobacco moths in the same way, and 

 compare. Here, again, we find several individuals so nearly 

 alike that we consider them the same kind, or species. 



B. Now compare a tobacco moth and a tomato moth. 

 They are not alike and are not of the same species, for they 

 differ in the colors of the wings and the markings of the 

 abdomens. Yet they have similar antenna?, wings of 

 nearly the same shape, and abdomens alike in size and shape. 

 Clearly, they are very closely related species and may be 

 assembled in one group. Such a group, composed of several 

 very closely related species, is known as a genus. 



A genus is given a single name taken from the Greek or 

 the Latin language. The genus containing the tomato and 

 tobacco moths is known as Protoparce. There are other 

 moths that belong to this genus, and they are all known 

 under the name of Protoparce. But, since the tobacco and 

 tomato moths are different species, they must have differ- 

 ent names in order that we may be able to designate them. 

 Therefore, the tomato moth is called Protoparce sexta and 

 the tobacco moth is called Protoparce quinquemaculatus. 

 In these names the word Protoparce indicates the genus 

 to which these moths belong, while the words sexta and 

 quinquemaculatus indicate the respective species to which 

 they belong. That is, the scientific name of every animal 



