2l6 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



The larvae are nearly naked, and grub-like in appearance, 

 although furnished with sixteen legs. They feed upon 

 wood, and are found at the roots or within the stems of plants. 

 They transform either in their burrows, or, in the case of 

 those that feed outside of roots, within loose cocoons. The 

 pupae have transverse rows of teeth on the abdominal seg- 

 ments ; these aid them in emerging from their burrows. 

 The best known American species bores in the stems of the 

 speckled or hoary alder {A Inns incanci). 



Family MiCROPTERYGlD^ (Mi-crop-te-ryg'i-dae). 



The Little-zvinged Jngates ( ' Jn'gatcs). 



These are very minute moths, which resemble Tineids in 

 size and appearance. The largest species known to the 

 writer expands but little more than half an inch. Figure 245 

 represents the venation of the wings. Only a single genus, 



viii vn a vn r V 3 



Fig. 245. — Wings of Microjiteryx. 



Microptcryx (Mi-crop'te-ryx), occurs in this country. The 

 larvae are leaf-miners. 



Suborder Frenatve (Fre-na'tae). 

 The Frenate (Fre'nate) Lepidoptera. 

 To the Frenatae belong nearly all of our moths, and all 

 skippers and butterflies. With most moths of this suborder 



