HEMIPTERA. 025 



The SILK- WORMS, Bombycida, (leading genus Bornbyx,} rep 

 resent some of the largest and most beautiful species of nocturnal 

 Butterflies ; among which is the Atlacus luna, or GREEN EMPEROR 

 MOTH, which is about five inches in the expanse of wings, (see 

 Chart;) the Caterpillar is also of a bluish green color; when in 

 motion, three inches in length, and in feeding, preferring the 

 leaves of the hickory. For figures of the Bowlyx ?nori, or Silk- 

 Worm in its different stages, see Chart. The larvse have sixteen 

 feet, feed upon leaves ; and spin the silken cocoon out of a 

 single thread, with the assistance of a gummy matter, which soon 

 hardens. Other species than the Bombyx mori, (Lat. of the mul 

 berry,) are reared for the silk, and more of it might be obtained, 

 if warm water dissolved the gum of the cocoon, as it does in the 

 true Silk- Worm. The Tincidce., (Tmea,) are the smallest Moths 

 in the section. These infest woolens, furs, etc. The best way 

 to protect such articles against these Moths, is to put them to 

 gether with tobacco-leaves, camphor, or turpentine, in a tight bag 

 early in the spring, before the eggs of this insect are laid. 



The HONEY-COMB MOTH, T. cercHa, (Lat. from cera. wax,) is 

 notorious for its depredations upon the wax of the Bee-Hive. 



The LEAF-ROLLERS, Tortricidcs, ( Tortrix, i. e., twister or roller,) 

 comprehend many, species of insects, the larvse of which do great 

 damage to the fruit of apple and the foliage of forest trees. The 

 larvce of the Carpocapsa, (Gr. fruit-eater,) pomoneUa, (Lat. from 

 pomum, fruit, apples, &c..) known as the Apple-Worm, came to 

 this country with the apple, and this worm has become natural 

 ized among us. 



NINTH ORDER. HEMIPTERA, (Gr. ijfuffvs, hemisus, half; nisgtv, 

 pteron, wing.) 



This order is distinguished by having the rostrum or jaw 

 compounded, i. e., formed for piercing and sucking. The insects 

 which it includes, live upon vegetables and animal juices, those 

 feeding upon vegetables being the most numerous. The name 

 Hemiptera, first used by Linnaeus, refers to a characteristic of 

 some of the order in having a thickening on the basal part of the 

 anterior wings, while the other part is thin and transparent. 

 Others apply to it the term Khynchota, (Gr. rhunchos, beak or 

 gape.) having reference to the character of the mouth. The 

 metamorphosis in this order is only semi-complete, both the 

 larva and pupa being active, and, at all times, taking food. 



The order includes two sections, viz: Homoptera, (Gr. like- 

 wings,) and Heteroptera, (Gr. different wings,) in the first of 



