There is a great Order of insects which we shall call the hook-wing family.
The wasp, the bee, the saw-fly, and ant belong to this family. They are the chief of all the insects. They can do many strange and curious things.
You will know insects of this great family by their wings. The front wings are larger than the back ones. They fold back over them when at rest.
In flight the upper wings hook fast to the lower.[2]
The Bee.
If you look carefully at some kinds of insects, you will soon think I have told you what is not quite true. Why will you think that? You will say to me, “The fly has two wings, and not four.” “The ant has no wings at all.”
Ah, but wait until you study about ants and flies, and see what you will think then.
The mouth of all the hook-wing insects has two jaws for cutting or for carrying things. The mouth is nearly as wide as the head.
