CHAP. XI. HOW TO IDENTIFY THE ORDERS OF INSECTS. 61 



and horny texture, and the under wings are thin and mem- 

 braneous, and folded both lengthwise and crosswise, the insect 

 is a Beetle ( as the Prickly-bark Beetle, Fig. 177), and there- 

 fore belongs to the Order Coleoptera, as this is the only order 

 of insects having biting jaws, and wings of the kind just men- 

 tioned. If the fore or upper' wings are parchment-like, or 

 leathery, and the under wings membraneous and folded 

 lengthwise like a fan (as those of the Katydid, Fig. 141), the 

 insect belongs to the Order Orthoptera, as this is the only 

 order of insects having biting jaws and wings of the kind 

 described. 



Fig. 177 



If the insect is provided with four wings, all of which are 

 thin and membraneous; and if furnished with biting jaws, it 

 belongs either to the Hymenoptera or Xeuroptera. If the ab- 

 domen is provided with a sting or piercer (as that of the Wasp 

 or Hornet, Fig. 1), it belongs to the Order Hymenoptera, as 

 this is the only order of insects having biting jaws and four 

 membraneous wings, that has the abdomen armed with a sting 

 or piercer. But if the four wings ai*e'' of equal size, and crossed 

 by numerous veins, forming a net-like structure, and the 

 abdomen is soft and not armed with a sting ( such as. the 

 Dragon-fly, Fig. 143), the insect belongs to the Order Neurop- 

 tera, as this IP, the only order of insects having biting jaws 

 and four wings of e^ual size, and' the abdomen not armed with 

 a sting. 



Supposing the insect presented has a mouth formed for 

 sucking (as the Tomato-worm Moth, Fig. 178), then it belongs 

 to either of the Orders Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, or Diptera- 



