214 
l^uxiplement to the *^ Tropical Agriculturist" [Sept. 1, 1898, 
and from within it comes the mature winged 
insect (imago). The change from the grub-like 
larva to the imago takes place during the 
quiescent period or resting stage represented by 
the pupa. After pairing the female lays eggs 
and dies. Then the whole cycle of egg, larva, 
pupa, and imago, is repeated. 
This is termed " complete metamorphosis,'' 
and it includes, as mentioned, the quiescent 
pupa stage. It takes place in the case of the 
following orders of insects : Coleoptera, Hy- 
menoptera, Keuroptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. 
In some orders, however, the pupa stage is absent ; 
the larva is then much like the adult form which 
is reached after many moultings. This is the 
case with the llomoptera, Heteroptera and the 
Orthoptera. 
To the order Coleoptera or " sheath-winged 
insects belong the beetles. The front wings 
are hard and act as a protection to the mem- 
branous hind wings. Beetles have biting jaws. 
The insects of this order pass through a com- 
plete metamorphosis. The larvae are usually 
fleshy grubs, the mouths being furnished with 
jaws ; they are mostly 6-legged and often have a 
fleshy proleg at the end of the tail. Weevils are a 
group of hard beetles provided with snouts, 
their larvae are legless grubs. What are known 
as lady-birds, are useful beetles which destroy 
plant lice. Wireworms and cockchafer grubs, 
which live in the soil for years, are very 
troublesome. To this order also belong, beside 
the wireworm and cockchafer, the turnip fly, 
the mustard beetle, the bean seed beetle, the 
turnip gall beetle, the nut weevil and others. 
The Hymenoptera or membrane-winged insects 
have usually four membranous wings which have 
few veins, though often furnished with scattered 
bristles. The abdomen of the female frequently 
has a conspicuous ovipositor or egg-laying 
apparatus, which is also used as a borer 
or is developed as a string. The Hymenoptera 
pass through a complete metamorphosis. In 
some species the larvae are legless (existing as 
a maggot or grub), and live in a nest stored 
with dead insects or pollen ; in others they 
possess up to 10 or 11 legs, and feed on leaves, 
or stems in galls. The latter are specially 
destructive to crops. 
The true stinging insects such as wasps, bees, 
and hornets belong to this order, and most of 
the parasitic insects (such as gall flies) and the 
true ants arelalso included in it. The galls on the 
oak tre» is due to the marble-gall fty. 
To the Lepidoptera or scaly-winged insects 
belong butterflies and moths, of which the 
latter are the more numerous. They possess four 
wings which are usually covered with delicate 
vari-colored scales. The organs of the mouth are 
adapted to sucking, and the insects pass through 
a complete metamorphosis. The larva is worm- 
like with usually 5 to 8 pairs or less (occasionally 
none) and is furnished with biting jaws (cater- 
pillar). The following are the differences 
between butterflies and uijths ; butterflies have 
antennae or horns with knobs like a drumstick, 
the antennae of the moths have no knobs. 
Butterflies when at rest raise the wings so 
that they meet back to back; moths at rest 
keep their wings spread out so as to cover their 
bodies. Butterflies usually fly by day, moths at 
pigbt or twilight. 
The Homoptera or similar-winged inaecte have 
wings of the same texture through jut, either 
leathery or membranous. The win;,'8 when at 
rest are held slanting over the back like a sleep 
roof. Though four wings are usually present, there 
are only two in some species and none in others. 
The mouth or beak is adapted for sucking. The 
antennas are generally short. Thelar\ye are much 
like the mature insect and there is no quiescent 
stage. The llomoptera are terrestiiil insects and 
are all injurious to vegetation. With the 
Heteroptera (^^dis-similar winged) — an order in- 
cluding the plant bugs and certain water 
insects — they make up the division called Ue- 
miptera (half-winged). The Homoptera are well 
illustrated by the aphides or plant lice which 
include some of the most destructive injects 
known. Vegetables, hops, vine (attacked by the 
Phylloxera), fruit trees and corn are all subject 
to their attack. 
Diptera (two-winged) have only on« pair of 
wings which have few veins and are naked. 
Tliis is the order of the true JHet. in place of 
the hind wings are a pair of balances or poisors ; 
the mouth is furniahed with a proboscis for 
piercing or lapping. The larvae are usually 
wormlike, legless maggots with a soft retractile 
head of no definite shape, though sometimes there 
is a hard head with jaws. The house-fly and 
blow-fly are familiar examples, and one of the most 
destructive root pests is the leather-jacket, 
which lives in the soil like the wireworm. The 
ox warble fly, horse bot fly, gad fly, forest flies, 
sheep's nostril fly, sheep tick and mosquitos are 
all dipterous insects. 
As before mentioned the above Ave orders 
include the most important plant pests. The 
Orthoptera (right- winged) have four wings, the 
outer being leathery rather than homy as in 
Coleoptera, and slightly overlapping; the hind 
legs are fitted for leaping, the jaws for biting. 
Tlie larvae live on land and there \& no resting 
stage. Cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, and 
locusts (so destructive to vegetation in some 
countries) belong to the order, as do the walking- 
stick and leaf insects. 
Keuroptera (nerve-winged or net-veined) have 
four wings, generally with numerous hollow veins 
and either naked or hairj-. The worm-like larvae 
have six legs and are provided with jaws. They 
are mostly aquatic and with few exceptions pass 
through a pupa stage. Dragon flies, may flies, 
and the well-known termites or white ants are 
examples of Neuroptera. 
» 
HORSE-BEEEDING. II. 
We have all heard of the horse-breeding farm 
at Delft which is said to have produced very good 
animals at one time. Another place where a few 
animals are bred is the ilassalwala near Beru- 
wala. Moist soil and undrained lands are the 
worst places for animals to live in and far less to 
breed. The Beruwala land is thus totally unfit 
to be a breeding station, and could only have 
been chosen owing to so large an expanse of flat 
country being available, and from the fact that 
there is also a good growth of natural grasses in 
the locality. The place was probably originally 
a resort for cast-off horses, which, having bred 
under natural conditions, eet a precedent for a 
