BRANCH ARTHROPODA; CLASS IN SECT A : THE INSECTS 205 



(piercing) of the mosquitoes. It is probable also that the 

 germs of yellow fever are distributed by mosquitoes in the 

 same way. By pouring a little kerosene on the surface 

 of a puddle no mosquitoes will be able to escape from 

 the water. 



Lepidoptera: the moths and butterflies. TECHNICAL 



NOTE. Obtain specimens of a few moths, and compare with the 

 butterfly already studied ; note especially the character of antennae. 

 Obtain miscellaneous specimens of larvae, pupae, and cocoons of any 

 moths or butterflies. Note the variety in colors, markings, and 

 skin covering's of the larvae ; note the shape and markings of the 

 pupae. Rear from eggs, larvae, or pupae in breeding-cages any 

 moths and butterflies obtainable (for directions for rearing moths 

 and butterflies see Chapter XXXIV), keeping note of the times of 

 molting and of the duration of the various immature stages. If 

 the eggs of silkworms can be obtained the whole life cycle of the 

 silkworm moth can be observed in the schoolroom. The larvae 

 (worms) feed on mulberry or osage orange leaves, feeding vora- 

 ciously, growing rapidly and making no attempts to escape. The 

 molting of the larvae can be observed, the spinning of the silken 

 cocoon, and the final emergence of the moth. The moths after 

 emergence will not fly away, but if put on a bit of cloth will mate, 

 and lay their eggs on it. From these eggs, which should be kept 

 well aired and dry, larvae will hatch in nine or ten months (if the 

 race is an " annual "). 



The Lepidoptera (figs. 69-74) include all those insects 

 familiarly known to us as moths and butterflies ; they are 

 characterized by their scale-covered wings (fig. 69) and 

 long nectar-sucking proboscis composed of the two inter- 

 locking maxillae. They undergo a complete metamorpho- 

 sis (fig. 70) and their larvae are the familiar caterpillars of 

 garden and field. These larvae have biting mouth-parts 

 and feed on vegetation, some of them being very injurious, 

 for example the army-worms, cut-worms, codlin moth 

 worms, etc. The adult moths and butterflies take only 

 liquid food, or no food at all, and are wholly harmless to 

 vegetation. The structure and life-history of a butterfly 

 has already been studied, and in the more general condi- 



