42 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
HETEROCERA. The Moths . 
In this group of insects the antennae are of various shapes, gener¬ 
ally terminating in a point, while the wings are usually folded roof 
shape over the abdomen when the insects are at rest. 
Many of the species have a bristle attached to the upper edge of 
the hind wing near the body which fits into a loop in the lower edge 
of the upper wing for the purpose of holding the wings together dur¬ 
ing flight. By turning the insect upside down and spreading its 
wings the bristle and loop may be readily seen. 
Many of the species are extremely minute, the aid of a micro¬ 
scope being necessary to study them, while a few are gigantic in 
comparison, being among the largest and grandest insects known. 
Many are plain in color or their coloring is soft and blended, 
while a few rival the gayest and richest butterflies. Most of the 
species fly by night, a few love the hottest sunshine, while others 
prefer the dusk of morning and evening. 
Their geographical range is very great. They abound in the 
tropics in countless myriads while species of this group have been 
seen in the cold and barren wastes of the most northern polar lands. 
They are found in every land and under all conditions of climate, 
either as the perfect insect or as the egg, larva or chrysalis. 
Some species make cocoons in which to pupate ; many burrow in 
the ground or hide under leaves in the forest. 
Most of the caterpillars of moths feed on the leaves of plants, 
some in the stems and trunks of trees, while some devour fruits. 
The small kinds, probably best known to the thrifty housewife, de¬ 
vour woollens, feathers and furs. 
The moths outnumber the butterflies many times and between 
five and six thousand species are natives of America north of Mexico. 
These insects are nearly all, except the silk producers, directly 
injurious to man’s interests; the parasites and insectiverous birds 
and mammals keeping these vast hosts in check. 
