10 



IN-JUEIOUS INSECTS 



Oeder I.— HYMENOPTERA.— The Bees, 

 Wasps, Ants, Ichneumon Flies, etc. 



The name Hymenoptera, is from the Greek words for 

 ' ' membrane " and ^ ' 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 



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 are 

 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. 



Oeder II.— OOLEOPTERA.— Beetles, os 

 Shield-winged Insects. 



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

 that for "Aving," 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- ^.-lahva. Fig. 3. -beetle. 

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



^ ^ \ 



Fig. 1. — STRAWBERRY FLY. 



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 



