THE METAMOEPHOSIS OP INSECTS. 235 



Describe the digestive apparatus of a Beetle. How are the wings of 

 Insects constructed ? What are elytra ? What is there peculiar in 

 the wings of Moths and Butterflies ? What is said of the beauties of 

 Insects ? What various provisions are made for preserving and hatch- 

 ing the eggs of Insects ? What is said of their shapes ? What is said 

 of the fecundity of Insects ? What of their distribution ? 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



THE METAMORPHOSIS OF INSECTS. 



402. THE grand peculiarity of Insects is their metamor- 

 phosis, or change of form. Almost every Insect under- 

 goes this change, there being commonly three distinct 

 changes of being. In the first stage the Insect is a crawl- 

 ing caterpillar or a worm. In its second stage it is wrap- 

 ped up in a covering prepared for the purpose, and is in 

 a state of sleep. During this sleep great changes are 

 going on. When these are completed it is a winged an- 

 imal, its wings being closely folded up. In due time it 

 comes out of its prison, and spreads its wings for flight. 

 It is now deemed to have arrived at its perfect condi- 

 tion. 



403. In its first stage it is called a Larva, this being 

 the Latin word for mask, the idea being that the Insect 

 is now not in its true state or character, but is in a mask- 

 ed condition, from which it will after a while come out. 

 When it does so, it is called the Imago, or said to be in 

 the imago state. The Insect is now the image or repre- 

 sentative in full of its species. Its sleeping state, the 

 one intermediate between the larva state and the imago 

 state, is a transition one. In this the Insect is changing 

 from a crawling to a flying animal. It is now termed 

 a Pupa, the Latin for baby, because it commonly appears 

 somewhat like an infant trussed up with bandages, as has 

 sometimes been the fashion in some nations. The or- 



