CLASS INSECTS. 



403 



numerous societies, composed of winged males and females, 

 of wingless neutral individuals, and of the young. 



542, The hymenoptera establish in some measure the 

 passage between masticating and sucking insects : they have 

 in front mandibles very like the first, but which do not serve 

 for mastication, and they are nourished with soft or liquid 

 matters, which they suck up by means of a moveable and 

 flexible proboscis, composed of gums and of the languette 

 extremely elongated (Fig. 358). They have, like the neu- 

 roptera, four membranous and transparent wings ; but these 

 wings, instead of being reticulated like lace, are divided into 



Fig. 387. Libellule Deprimee (Libellula depressa). 



a certain number of tolerably large cellules by horny nervures, 

 and they cross each other horizontally on the body during 

 repose. These integuments are not very hard, and the 

 abdomen of the female is terminated by a wimble or dart. 



These insects undergo a complete metamorphosis. The 

 larva, sometimes deprived of wings, resembles a worm ; at 

 other times, having -six feet, with hooks, and often also from 

 twelve to sixteen membranous feet, it more resembles a cater- 

 pillar. In both cases it has a scaly head, with mandibles, jaws, 

 and a lip, at the extremity of which is a winder for the 

 passage of the silky matter of which the cocoon is to be con- 

 structed. The regime of these larvae varies much. Several 

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