18 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



CHAPTER II. 



CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



About the classification of insects there is considerable 

 diversity of opinion, and even amongst the most eminent 

 of our scientific entomologists there would appear to be 

 but little chance of some " general " system of classifica- 

 tion being agreed upon by all. I have, therefore, adopted 

 the system approved by such eminent entomologists as 

 McLeay, Westwood, and others, as being, to my mind, 

 clear and concise. 



Professor Westwood, then, has divided insects into two 

 grand divisions, Mandibulata and Haustellata. The 

 former (as is the case with beetles, wasps, &c.) feed by 

 means of mandibles (jaws), the latter (as plant bugs, flies, 

 &c.) are provided with "suckers" (haustellwri), with 

 which they perforate and absorb material for their sus- 

 tenance. These divisions, or tribes, are again broken up, 

 and are divided into natural orders, genera, and species, 

 the latter sometimes merging into so-called varieties. 

 The following table will the better explain what is 

 meant: 



, T . , , MANDIBULATA. 



Natural Orders. 



Coleoptera - - Beetles. 



Euplexoptera - - Earwigs. 



Orthoptera - - Cockroaches, mantis, locusts, crickets, &c. 



Thysanoptera - - Thrips. 



Neuroptera - - Dragon flies, white ants, &c. 



Trichoptera - Caddis flies. 



Hymenoptera - Bees, wasps, ichneumons, ants, &c. 



Strepsiptera - Bee parasites (some). 



Natural Orders. HAUSTELLATA. 



Lepidoptera - - Butterflies, moths. 



Homoptera - - Aphis, scale insects, cicadas, &c. 



Heteroptera - - Plant bugs, &c. 



Aphaniptera - - Fleas. 



Diptera - - Flies, mosquitos, sand-fly, &c. 



