100 



NATURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



(1.) Coleoptera (Beetles; Sheath- wings). Six feet, and mostly four 

 wings, the anterior pair of which are horny, in the form of a covering for 

 the two posterior wings, which are sometimes wanting. They have upper 

 and lower jaws (mandibles and maxillae) for gnawing or chewing : their 

 under wings are transversely folded. Examples — the may-bug, the long- 

 horns (Cerambycidaj), stag-beetles, ground-beetles (C'arabidse), weevils, &c. 



(2.) Oi'thoptera (Straight -wings). Six feet ; four wings, the two anterior of 

 a leathery substance, serving as covers to the posterior, which are folded both 

 longitudinally and transversely, but more generally only longitudinally, 

 (whence the name straight- wings,) and which lie, when at rest, concealed 

 under the others. They have upper and lower jaws (or mandibles and 

 maxillae) for chewing. Examples — the earwig, the black-beetle, the cock- 

 roach, the field-cricket, the migratory locust, and the green grasshopper. 



(3.) Hemiptera (Half-wings). Six feet; four wings, the two anterior form- 

 ing hard coverings with membranous ends, or resembling the lower ones, but 

 being larger and stronger. Instead of upper and lower jaws, the organs of 

 the mouth are formed of bristles, inclosed in an articulated sheath, of a cylin- 

 drical or conical shape, and forming a projecting beak or sucker. Examples 

 — the field and tree bugs, house bugs, cicadee, and aphides. 



(4.) Neuroptera (Net- wings). Six feet ; four membranous naked wmgs, 

 upper and lower jaws for chewing ; the wings are delicately veined, the 

 under nearly the size of the upper, or even broader in diameter. Examples 

 — the dragon-fly, or Libellula ; lace- fly, or Hemerobius ; and day-fly, or 

 ii'phemera. 



(5.) Hymenoptera (Membrane-wings). Six feet ; four membranous wings, 

 upper and lower jaws ; the posterior wings smaller than the upper. In the 

 abdomen of the female of most species is a sting, or ovipositor. Examples — 

 the saw-flies ( Tenthredinidae), Sirex gigas, gall-fly, bees, wasps, humble- 

 bees, and ants. 



(6.) Lepidoptera (Scale- wings). Six feet; four membranous wings, covered 

 with small, coloured, mealy, shining scales or feathers. Instead of the upper 

 and lower jaws, two hollow filaments exist, which together form a spirall}^ 

 rolled tongue. Examples — butterflies, moths, and hawk-moths. 



(7.) Rhipiptera Fan- wings). Six feet ; two membranous wings, folded 

 like a fan ; on the anterior part of the thorax are situated two small, bent, 

 hard, movable bodies, like wing-covers. The masticatory organs consist of 

 simple bristle-shaped mandibles, and two palpi. To this order belong two 

 genera of parasites living on wasps and bees. 



(8.) Diptera (Two-wings). Six feet; two membranous expanded wings, 

 generally with two movable organs, called poisers or balancers, and which 

 are situated behind the wings. The organs of the mouth consist of a sucker 

 formed of a variable number of bristles, which are enclosed in an unarticu- 

 lated sheath ; terminated in a double lip. Examples — gnats, midges, house- 

 flies, ox and horse breeze-flies, &c. 



308. Insects without wings consist of the following orders : — 



(9.) Myridpoda (Thousand-feet, Millepedes). They have more than six 

 feet, twenty-four at least, and upwards, which are placed on a series of rings, 

 extending the whole length of the body ; each ring has generally two pairs. 

 The first, and sometimes also the second pair, form parts of the mouth. 

 Examples— the centipede, iulus, and scolopendra. 



(10.) Thysanura (Fringe -tails). Six feet; on the under sides of the 



