10 



IKJURIOrS INSECTS 



1. — STBA^WBERBT FLT. 



Obdbr L— HYMBNOPTERA.— The Bees, 

 Wasps, Ants, Ichneumok Plies, etc. 



The name Hymenoptera, is from the Greek words for 

 ' ' membrane " aad " wing. " The Greek word Pteron, ' ' a 

 wing," plural Ptera, "wings," is used in forming the 

 names of all the Orders. The insects of this Order, (with 



the exception of the Saw- 

 flies and Horn-tails, which 

 are vegetable feeders), are 

 highly useful to man. They 

 may be regarded as guards 

 over the rest of the insect 

 world, as they serve to keep 

 injurious insects greatly in 

 check. This Order ranks the highest in intelligence, and 

 many of the insects placed here possess wonderful archi- 

 tectural skill. In some of the families the young axe 

 provided with nurses, who feed and tend them with the 

 greatest care and apparent affection. Many are provided 

 with stings which are used as weapons of defence. 



Obdbe n.—COLEOPTERA.— Beetles, ob 



Shield-winged Insects. 



The Greek word Koleos, a " sheath," combined with. 

 that for "wing," makes up the scientific name of this 

 important Order, which 

 outranks all others in 

 the number and diver- 

 sity of its species. The 

 insects have two pairs 

 of wings, the upper of 

 which, usually horny or 

 leathery in texture, cov- 



Fig. 3.— LAKVA. Fig. 3.— BEETLE. 



er and form a " sheath " for a pair of large membranous 



