CLASSIFICATION AND ORIGIN OF INSECTS 1413 



what depressed, of an elongated ovate form, with a 

 small head, and moderately strong legs. It feeds on 

 Aphides, 



Thus, then, we see that there are among the Cole- 

 optera many different forms of larvae. Macleay con- 

 sidered that there were five principal types. 



The pupa of the Coleoptera is quiescent, and "the 

 parts of the future beetle are plainly perceivable, 

 being incased in distinct sheaths; the head is applied 

 against the breast; the antennae lie along the sides 

 of the thorax; the elytra and wings are short and 

 folded at the sides of the body, meeting on the under 

 side of the abdomen; the two anterior pairs of legs 

 are entirely exposed, but the hind pair are covered 

 by wing-cases, the extremity of the thigh only ap- 

 pearing beyond the sides of the body." * 



In the next three orders namely, the Orthoptera 

 (grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, walking-stick insects, 

 cockroaches, etc. ),Euplexoptera( earwigs), and Thy- 

 sanoptera, a small group of insects well known to 

 gardeners under the name of Thrips the larvae when 

 they quit the egg already much resemble the mature 

 form, differing, in fact, principally in the absence 

 of wings, which are more or less gradually acquired, 

 as the insect increases in size. They are active 

 throughout life. Those specimens which have rudi- 

 mentary wings are, however, usually called pupae. 



The Neuropttra present, perhaps, more differences 

 in the character of their metamorphoses than any 

 other order of insects. Their larvae are generally 



* Westwood's "Introduction." 



