LEPIDOPTERA. Insects without jaws, having the maxillae prolonged into a spiral sucking tube, the The larva? are provided with wings broad and covered with dust-like scales. The transformations are complete. The pupa is generally inclosed in a cocoon (except six true legs, and from one pair to five of false or pro-legs.
BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS.
legs and wings soldered to the breast. into three groups, called day, dusk, and night lepidoptera, or been divided This order has
butterflies),
moths.
and has the
Butterflies are distinguished
antenna; of
and
from moths by having the antenna; knobbed or thickened at the end As these are in the middle, those of moths are either simple or feathered.
while the
hawk-moths are thickened
the most delicate of or scales
butterflies, sphinges,
all
by rubbing the dust which they may be killed with
insects they should be carefully handled, to avoid injuring the specimen
from the wings.
They
are
most
easily captured with a
gauze
net, after
benzine or ether, or by slightly pinching the thorax, taking care to have the wings folded together over the back, then pinned and placed in the collecting box.
As entomology does name, a knowledge caterpillars,
their
not consist in simply knowing an insect in the perfect state, or being able to give its scientific and transformations is necessary. To obtain this the student should collect and rear
of its habits
connected with watching them through their different changes, and closely observing every particular
metamorphoses.
should have good Feeding boxes may be of any size, though boxes a foot square are the most convenient. They For species in the bottom. sand and earth of inches moist a few damp ventilation, and the atmosphere kept by
541^8
3
