The Butterfly Book. W. J. Holland

The Butterfly Book - W. J. Holland


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(Aphids, Mealy Bugs, etc.).

       Homoptera (Cicada, Tree-hoppers, etc.).

       Heteroptera (Ranatra, Belostoma, Water-spiders, Squash-bugs, Bedbugs, etc.).

       7. Coleoptera.

       Suborders:

       Cryptotetramera (Lady-birds, etc.).

       Cryptopentamera (Leaf-beetles, Longhorns, Weevils, etc.).

       Heteromera (Blister-beetles, Meal-beetles, etc.).

       Pentamera (Fire-flies, Skipjacks, June-bugs, Dung-beetles, Stag-beetles,

       Rove-beetles, Tiger-beetles, etc.).

      

      Metabola

      Undergoing for the most part a complete metamorphosis from egg, through larva and pupa, to imago.

      ORDERS

       8. Aphaniptera (Fleas).

       9. Diptera.

       Suborders:

       Orthorhapha (Hessian Flies, Buffalo-gnats, Mosquitos, Crane-flies, Horse-flies).

       Cyclorhapha (Syrphus, Bot-flies, Tsetse, House-flies, etc.).

       10. Lepidoptera.

       Suborders:

       Rhopalocera (Butterflies).

       Heterocera (Moths).

       11. Hymenoptera.

       Suborders:

       Terebrantia (Saw-flies, Gall-wasps, Ichneumon-flies, etc.).

       Aculeata (Ants, Cuckoo-flies, Digger-wasps, True Wasps, Bees).

       Fig. 76.—Antennæ of butterflies.

       Fig. 77.—Antennæ of moths.

      Scientific Arrangement.—Having thus cast a passing glance at the differences which exist between moths and butterflies, we take up the question of the subdivision of the butterflies into natural groups. Various systems of arranging butterflies have been suggested from time to time by learned writers, and for a knowledge of these systems the student may consult works which treat of them at length. It is sufficient for beginners, for whom this book is principally written, to observe that in modern science, for purposes of convenience, as well as from regard for essential truth, all individuals are looked upon as belonging to a species. A species includes all those individuals, which have a common ancestry, and are so related in form and structure as to be manifestly separable from all other similarly constituted assemblages of individuals. For instance, all the large cats having a tawny skin, and in the male a shaggy mane, constitute a species, which we call the lion; the eagles in the eastern United States, which in adult plumage have a snow-white head and neck and a white tail, constitute a species, which we know as the "white-headed" or "bald-headed" eagle. Species may then be grouped together, and those which are manifestly closely related to one another are regarded as forming a natural assemblage of species, to which we give the name of a genus. For example, all the large cats, such as the lion, the tiger, the puma, and the jaguar, are grouped together by naturalists, and form a genus to which is given the Latin name Felis, meaning cat. The name of the genus always comes before that of the species. Thus the tiger is spoken of scientifically as Felis tigris. The genera which are closely related to one another may again be assembled as subfamilies; and the subfamilies may be united to form families. For instance, all the various genera of cats form a family, which is known as the Felidæ, or the Cat Family. A group of families constitutes a suborder or an order. The cats belong to the Carnivora, or order of flesh-eating animals.

      In zoölogy family names are formed with the termination -idæ, and subfamily names with the termination-inæ.

      Everything just said in regard to the classification of the higher animals applies likewise to butterflies. Let us take as an illustration the common milkweed butterfly. Linnæus for a fanciful reason gave this insect the name Plexippus. This is its specific name, by which it is distinguished from all other butterflies. It belongs to the genus Anosia. The genus Anosia is one of the genera which make up the subfamily of the Euplœinæ. The Euplœinæ belong


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