CLASS INSECTA: OKDER LEPIDOPTERA. 



Fig. 861. 



ORDER LEPIDOPTERA. 



General Characteristics. The Lepidopters (scale- 

 winged) have wings covered with colored scales, that come 

 off at the slightest touch. These are so minute that four 

 hundred thousand have 

 been counted on a single 

 msect. The larvae are all 

 Caterpillars, with legs on 

 the thorax and not on 

 the abdomen. The But' 

 terflies have knobbed an- 

 tennae, and hold their 

 wings upright when at 

 rest. The Moths have 

 antennas feathery and 

 variously shaped, but 

 never knobbed. They 

 usually spin cocoons, the 

 metamorphosis being 

 complete. 



P a p i 1 i o nidae. The 

 Butterflies * are strictly 

 diurnal, and produce cat- 

 erpillars destructive to 

 foliage. 



Sphingidae. The 

 Sphinges (moths) usually. 

 fly in the twilight or 



night. ^^Deaths-head 



Moth, so called because on the back of its thorax there is a 



* Their long, tongue-like proboscis consists of two threads, each a semi-canal, 

 which unite to form a tuhe for thrusting into flowers to extract their sweet juices. 

 When not in use it can be coiled up like a watch-spring. The Lepidopter's flitting 

 flight aids in escaping its enemies. The number and variety of this beautiful family 

 make it the delight of the student, while the wonderful transformation from the 

 crawling worm to the brilliant insect, affords an ever welcome and touching type of 

 the final release of the soul of man from the darkness of the grave. 



Butterfly. 



