imperfect metamorphosis the nearest approximations to the true pupa of
the Holometabola are to be found in the sub-imago of _Ephemeridae_ and
in the quiescent or resting stages of Thysanoptera, _Aleurodidae_ and
_Coccidae_. A much more thorough appreciation than we yet possess of
the phenomena in these cases is necessary in order completely to
demonstrate the special characteristics of the holometabolous
transformation. But even at present we can correctly state that the
true pupa is invariably connected with the transference of the wings
from the interior to the exterior of the body. It cannot but suggest
itself that this transference was induced by some peculiarity as to
formation of cuticle, causing the growth of the wings to be directed
inwards instead of outwards. We may remark that fleas possess no
wings, but are understood to possess a true pupa. This is a most
remarkable case, but unfortunately very little information exists as
to the details of metamorphosis in this group.
_Life-Relations._--Only a brief reference can be made here to the
fascinating subject of the life-relations of the larva, nymph and pupa,
as compared with those of the imago. For details, the reader may consult
the special articles on the various orders and groups of insects. A
common result of metamorphosis is that the larva and imago differ
markedly in their habitat and mode of feeding. The larva may be aquatic,
or subterranean, or a burrower in wood, while the imago is aerial. It
may bite and devour solid food, while the imago sucks liquids. It may
eat roots or refuse, while the imago lives on leaves and flowers. The
aquatic habit of many larvae is associated with endless beautiful
adaptations for respiration. The series of paired spiracles on most of
the trunk-segments is well displayed, as a rule, in terrestrial
larvae--caterpillars and the grubs of most beetles, for example. In many
aquatic larvae we find that all the spiracles are closed up, or become
functionless, except a pair at the hinder end which are associated with
some arrangement--such as the valvular flaps of the gnat larva or the
telescopic "tail" of the drone-fly larva--for piercing the surface film
and drawing periodical supplies of atmospheric air. A similar
restriction of the functional spiracles to the tail-end (fig. 25, d) is
seen in many larvae of flies (Diptera) that live and feed buried in
carrion or excrement. Other aquatic larvae have the tracheal system
entirely closed, and are able to breathe dissolved air by means of
tubular or leaf-like gills. Such are the grubs of stone-flies, may-flies
(fig. 27) and some dragon-flies and midges. An interesting feature is
the difference often to be observed between an aquatic larva and pupa of
the same insect in the matter of breathing. The gnat larva, for example,
breathes at the tail-end, hanging head-downwards from the surface-film.
But the pupa hangs from the surface by means of paired respiratory
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