17 
ORDINES INSECTORUM; 
OR, 
THE ORDERS OF INSECTS. 
Th ERE are seven orders of Insects, each of which is denoted 
by the following characters : 
I. Coleoptera; having four wings, the upper ones, called elytra, 
are of a crustaceous hard substance, which meet together on the up- 
per part of the body, and form a line, or suture, down the back of 
the insect. 
II. Hemiptera; which have four wings, the elytra being in sub- 
stance like parchment, and of a softer texture than those of the 
former order. They cover the body horizontally, with their inner 
margins stretched over each other. 
III. Lepidoptera ; having four wings, all membranaceous, and 
imbricated, or covered with scales. The mouth contains the rudi- 
ments of a spiral tongue. 
IV. Neuroptera ; with four transparent membranaceous, and 
naked wings, not having any sting. 
V. Hymenoptera ; having four membranaceous wings; the ab- 
domen armed with a sting. 
VI. Diptera; with only two wings, having halteres, or balances. 
VII. Aptera ; or those wanting wings. 
