108 PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



to be divided into two or more if we were going to study insects 

 in detail, the main orders of insects with their characteristics, 

 are as follows. 



Order i. Aptera. — Fish Moths and Springtails. 



Primitive insects without wings or rudiments of wings; biting 

 mouth parts; and no metamorphosis. 



The fish moth or silver fish is the commonest species (see p. 57, 

 Fig. 35, A). The snow flea is sometimes a pest in maple sugar 

 camps, since large numbers often get into the sap. 



Order 2. Orthoptera. — Grasshoppers, Crickets, etc. 



Insects with four wings; the fore wings straight and leathery; 

 the hind wings folded like a fan ; biting mouth parts; metamor- 

 phosis direct. 



The principal families of the Orthoptera are the (1) cock- 

 roaches, (2) mantids, (3) walking sticks, (4) grasshoppers or 

 locusts with short antenna;, (5) grasshoppers with long antenna; 

 and (6) crickets. 



Order 3. Neuroptera. — May Flies, Dragon Flies, etc. 



Insects with two pairs of membranous wings; biting mouth 

 parts; metamorphosis direct or indirect. 



The group of insects included here are the May flies, dragon 

 flies, stone flies, caddice flies, lacewing flies, and white ants or 

 termites. 



Order 4. Hemiptera. — Chinch Bugs, Scale Insects, etc. 



Insects with four wings, or degenerate and without any wings; 

 the fore wings of some thickened at the base; sucking mouth 

 parts; metamorphosis direct. 



These are the true bugs. The wingless species are the sucking 

 lice, bedbugs, and many scale insects. The winged species in- 

 clude the cicadas, tree hoppers, spittle insects, water striders, 

 chinch bugs, squash bugs, and stink bugs. 



Order 5. Lepidoptera. — Butterflies, Skippers, and Moths. 



Insects with four membranous wings covered with scales ; 

 usually sucking mouth parts; metamorphosis indirect. 



These insects are noted for their brilliant colors. The butter- 



