STATES OF INSECTS. 261 



be renewed when rubbed off a . Many pupae have the 

 sheaths of the wings of a different colour from that of the 

 rest of the body ; a few are variegated with paler streaks 

 or bands, as Clostera Anastomosis, which has two red 

 longitudinal stripes down its dark-brown back; and that 

 of the common gooseberry and currant moth, which may 

 be found in every garden, has alternate rings of black 

 and yellow 5 . 



A few pupae vary in their colour, as the painted lady- 

 butterfly (Vanessa Car dui), some of which are light-brown 

 with gray streaks and golden dots, others wholly of a 

 golden yellow or brown, others of a light green c . 



Almost all at their first assumption of the pupa state 

 have a different colour from that which they take a few 

 days afterwards. This last they retain until the disclo- 

 sure of the perfect insect ; except some that have trans- 

 parent skins, which a few days previously to this period 

 exhibit the colours of the included animal, 



iv. There is as great variety in the length of the age 

 of Insects in their pupa as in their larva state. Some 

 species continue in it only two or three days (Aleyrodes 

 Chelidonii Latr., Tinea proletella L.); others, as many 

 weeks, or moriths, or even years. Each, however, has in 

 general a stated period, which in ordinary circumstances 

 it neither much exceeds nor falls short of. The only- 

 general rule that can be laid down is — that small pupae 

 continue in that state a shorter time than those of larger 

 bulk. Thus, amongst coleopterous genera, the more mi- 

 nute species of Curculio L. ; amongst the Hymenojptera^ 



a Seitrage, 181. h Sepp. pt. ii. t. ii,/. 4. c Rosel. I. i. 61. ii. 5, 



