2 INSECTS : THEIR STRUCTURE AND FOOD. 



legs, but also has five pairs of little sucker-feet to enable it to crawl 

 along a leaf. Our insects then, if they have no wings, should certainly 

 have not more than three pairs or six legs. They also have the feelers 

 on the front of the head. 



FIG. 3, 



Typical Caterpillar. 



But on the other hand there are maggots, for instance, that have 

 no legs. They look like worms, but are distinguished by many small 

 points of structure. One can only remember that a maggot is one stage 

 in the life of an insect and will become a fly with wings and six legs. 

 There are also insects that have anything but the general form of 

 insects ; they are however rare, and if we keep clearly in our minds that 

 spiders, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions and such -like eight or many- 

 legged creatures are not insects, we are 

 not likely to be confused. For those 

 who want a more exact and scientific 

 definition, there are excellent books 

 on zoology and comparative anatomy, 

 where the distinctions are expressed in 

 more scientific terms. 



An insect's body is completely 

 clothed in hard durable material within 

 which the organs lie. This is not one 

 continuous covering, but is formed of 

 rings joined end to end by flexible 

 connections so as to enable the insects 

 to crawl and move about. These rings 

 overlap a little and so present an un- 

 broken hard surface to the outside. Within this flexible tube of rings 

 lie the soft parts, the muscles, nerves and all organs ; attached to it are 

 the legs, wings, jaws, and other parts, 



Fm. 4. 



An insect (beetle) which resembles a 

 mite, but has three pairs of legs. 



