THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 425 



is more mortifying to a host, disgusting to his guest, 

 or disheartening to the amateur, than to discover a 

 writhing worm wounded by his teeth in a fruit which 

 the sun has painted with the image of God's glory, 

 and to which the morning breezes have imparted a 

 delightful fragrance, and from which he anticipated 

 an almost ambrosial morsel ? While some insects, 

 destructive to our fruit, are real enemies, others 

 are true friends and valuable allies, destroying 

 the former. Insects cause a number of diseases, 

 and we will consider briefly a few facts respecting 

 them. 



The life of an insect is divided into three periods. 

 The first state is that in which it is hatched, then 

 called a larva, and is wingless ; it may be a maggot 

 destitute of legs and sight ; a caterpillar or grub. 

 The latter has six legs, sometimes with an additional 

 pair of false legs attached to the posterior segment 

 of the body. The caterpillar has six true legs, like 

 the grub, and several pairs of false legs, amounting 

 altogether to from ten to sixteen. 



From this state, in which it feeds enormously, and 

 grows very fast, it passes to the second state. In 

 this it is called a pupa, or chrysalid. The latter is 

 distinguished by the gilt spots. In this state some 

 insects eat, and are active ; but most of them are 

 dormant, and enclosed in a cocoon. 



In the third state they are generally provided 

 with wings. The females deposit their eggs, and 

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