THE CLASS AND ORDERS OF INSECTS 183 



In the life-history of some beetles, the former type is succeeded 

 by the latter (hypermetamorphosis) . Beetle pupae have the 

 wings and appendages not fixed to the body (" free ' type 

 of pupa). 



Order 16. Neuroptera 



The Neuroptera resemble beetles in the nature of their 

 jaws, but have the wings of the two pairs membranous and 

 closely similar in their nervuration, a series of short nervules 

 from the sub-costal nervure to the costa being characteristic. 

 There are no cerci on the last abdominal segment. 



The larva is long-legged and well-armoured, the pupa is of 

 free type and the pupal wing has a full series of tracheal 

 trunks. Two sub-orders may be recognized. 



Sub-Order i. Megaloptera 



The Megaloptera (including alder-flies, snake-flies, etc.) 

 have larvae with biting jaws essentially like those of the 

 adult. 



Sub-Order ii. Planipennia 



The Planipennia (lace-wing, golden-eye and ant-lion 

 flies) have larvae with mandibles and maxillae specially 

 modified for sucking liquids (usually the juices of other 

 insects). 



Order 17. Mecoptem 



The Mecoptera (scorpion-flies) have the head prolonged 

 into a beak at the tip of which the biting jaws are situated. 

 The wings of both pairs are membranous with a less specialized 

 nervuration than that of the Neuroptera. The abdomen is 

 elongate, the male with prominent genital armature, the 

 female with an elongate ovipositor ; cerci are present on the 

 last abdominal segment. 



Scorpion-flies have eruciform larvae with biting mandibles, 

 three pairs of strong thoracic legs, and eight pairs of abdominal 

 prolegs some of which may be jointed and clawed. The pupa 



