COMMON FORMS OF INSECTS 59 



But we can learn to distinguish a few examples of the common 

 forms that might be seen on a field trip. In the fields, on grass, or 

 on flowering plants we may find members from at least six of 

 the twenty orders of insects. These may be known by the follow- 

 ing characters : 



The order Hymenoptera (hi-men-op'ter-d, membrane wings), 

 to which the bees, wasps, and ants belong, is the only insect order 

 of which some of the members are provided with true stings. 

 This sting is placed in a sheath at the extreme hind end of the abdo- 

 men. All structures which the honey bee has are possessed by 

 this group of insects. 



Butterflies and moths will be found hovering over flowers. 

 They belong to the order Lepidoptera (lep-i-dop'ter-d, scaled 

 wings) (see p. 68). This name is given to them because their 

 wings are covered with tiny scales, which fit into little sockets 

 much as shingles are placed on a roof. The wings are always 

 large and usually brightly colored; the legs are small, and 

 one pair of them is often inconspicuous. These insects take 

 liquid food through a long tubelike organ, called the proboscis 

 (pr6-bos'is). 



Grasshoppers, found almost everywhere, katydids, and crickets, 

 black grasshopper-like insects often found under stones, belong to 

 the order Orthoptera (or-thop'ter-d, straight wings). Members of 

 this group may usually be distinguished by their strong, jumping 

 hind legs, by their chewing or biting mouth parts, and by the fact 

 that the hind wings are folded up under the somewhat stiffer 

 front wings. 



Another group of insects sometimes found on flowers in the fall 

 are flies. They belong to the order Diptera (dip'ter-d, two wings) . 

 These insects are usually rather small and have a single pair of gauzy 

 wings. Some of man's worst enemies are found in this group of in- 

 sects, which includes the house fly, mosquitoes, stable fly, and botfly. 



Bugs, members of the order Hemiptera (he-mip'ter-d, half 

 wing), have mouth parts that are fitted for piercing and sucking. 

 They are usually small and many of them have a pair of delicate 

 membranous wings covered with outer wings which are somewhat 

 thickened. 



