CATALOGUE 



OP 



LEPIDOPTERA VEiLM^E. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The Lepidoptera, consisting of the l:}utterflics, Papiliones, and Moths, 

 Phalceruv, to revert to the original terms given to them by Linna)us *, 

 are for the most part easily distinguished from all other insects 

 by : — (1) The maxilioc being channelled and conjoined to form a 

 tubular proboscis, which, however, is often more of less aborted or 

 entirely absent in such groups as the Uepialida', Psi/cJiidcv, Satur- 

 niadce, and some Sesiadce, Pyralidce, etc. (2) Ey the mandibles 

 being obsolete, except in the ancestral family Micropterygidce, 

 where in the genus Enocephala they are functionally active. (3) By 

 the very largely developed clypeus or frons forming the whole front 

 of the head. (4) Ey the broad, regularly veined wings clothed with 

 minute scales which are modified hairs, all the gradations between 

 the extreme forms of hairs and scales being often observable in the 

 same insect : some Lepkloptera, however, appear to be hyaline and 

 devoid of scales, either by the scales falling off after development 

 or by being so reduced in size as to become microscopic; whilst 

 the females of Psijchidcv and some Lymantriadce, Geometridce, and 

 Tineidce have the wings more or less aborted. 



The Lepidoptera^ after leaving the egg, pass through three well- 

 defined stages of development and changes in structure and habit — 

 (1) The larva, whose function is growth ; (2) the pupa, whose 

 function is maturation ; and (3) the imago, whose function is 

 reproduction t. 



* Strictly speaking, the Phcdcencs are the Fhalmics of Linnaeus plus his 

 Sphinges. 



t E. Meyrick, ' Introduction to Handbook of British Lepidoptera.' Mac- 

 millan, 1895. 



VOL. I. B 



