LEPIDOPTERA. 



21 



coiled up is a spiral between the palpi. In some of the lower moths the 

 maxillary palpi are also present. The characters used in classification are the 

 relative size, position and clothing of the three-jointed palpi. 



The larvse of Lepidoptera have usually 16 legs, the first two and the next to 

 the last abdominal segments being legless. Some have a less number by 

 the loss of the more anterior pairs of abdominal legs, the minimum num- 

 ber being ten. All abdominal legs differ in structure from the thoracic legs, 

 and are often called pro-legs. 



The pupae have the appendages cemented fast to the body except in a few of 

 the lowest moths. 



The classification of Lepidoptera of longest standing is the separation 



Figure 15. The head and mouthparts of a larva of a moth. 

 of the diurnals, butterflies, from the moths Another division commonly 

 made is the separation of the smaller forms as microlepidoptera. Re- 

 cently the forms possessing a finger-like projection (jugum) near the base of 

 the hind edge of the front wing haVe been placed by themselves as the jugatse. 

 The families Sphingidse and Saturnidse comprising our largest moths have 

 each been separated as primary groups. 



SYNOPSIS OF FAMILIES. 



Noctuidae: cell of front wings closed by a cross-vein in three sections, a 

 large feeble semicircular portion followed by two small, nearly equal trans- 

 verse portions. Agaristidas: antennae: enlarged outwardly. Nycteolidae: front 

 wings not arched at base. 



Geometridae: two large, nearly equal sections of cross-vein at end of cell 



