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The pleurum in each of the three thoracic segments is divided into two pieces; the one in front is called the episternum, since it rests upon the sternum; the other is the epimerum. To these pieces, with the sternum in part, the legs are articulated (Fig. 89).

Between the episterna is situated the breastplate or sternum, which is very large in the more primitive forms, as the Orthoptera, and is small in the Diptera and Hymenoptera.

Fig. 92.—Prothorax of Geometra papilionaria: n, notum; p, pleura; st, sternum; pt, patagia; m, membrane; f, femur; h, a hook bent backwards and beneath, and connecting the pro- with the mesothorax.—After Cholodkowsky.

The episterna and epimera are in certain groups, Neuroptera, etc., further subdivided each into two pieces (Fig. 102). The smaller pieces, hinging upon each other and forming the attachments of the muscles of flight, differ much in shape and size in insects of different orders. The difference in shape and degree of differentiation of these parts of the thorax is mentioned and illustrated under each order, and reference to the figures will obviate pages of tedious description. A glance, however, at the thorax of a moth, fly, or bee, where these numerous pieces are agglutinated into a globular mass, will show that the spherical shape of the thorax in these insects is due to the enlargement of one part at the expense of another; the prothoracic and metathoracic segments being more or less atrophied, while the mesothorax is greatly enlarged to support the powerful muscles of flight, the fore wings being much larger than those appended to the metathorax. In the Diptera, whose hinder pair of wings are reduced to the condition of halteres, the reduction of the metathorax as well as prothorax is especially marked (Fig. 91).