CHAPTER XV. 

 Order NEUROPTERA (Neu-rop'te-ra). 



The Dobson, Aphis-lions, A nt-lions, and others. 



The members of this order have four wings ; these are mem- 

 branous and furnished wz/// numerous veins, and usually ^vith 

 many cross veins. The head is not prolonged into a beak. The 

 mouth-parts are formed for biting. The metamorphosis is 

 complete. 



The name of this order is from two Greek words : neuron, a 

 nerve ; and pteron, a wing. It refers to the numerous nerves, 

 or veins as they are more commonly called, with which the 

 wings are furnished. 



When the name Neuroptera was first used it was applied 

 to a much larger group of insects than now, a group which 

 has since been divided into many orders. So that now, 

 while the name expresses a character which is true of the 

 order, it is also true of many others.* 



The order Neuroptera as now restricted is represented in 

 the United States by seven families. These can be separated 

 by the following table : 



TABLE FOR DETERMINING THE FAMILIES OF NEUROPTERA. 



A. Prothorax as long as or longer than the mesothorax and the 

 metathorax combined. 



B. Fore legs greatly enlarged and fitted for grasping, p. 179. 



MANTISPID^:. 



* The Neuroptera of the older Entomologists included the following 

 orders : Thysanura, Ephemerida, Odonata, Plecoptera, Isoptera, Corroden- 

 tia, Mallophaga, Neuroptera, Mecoptera, and Trichoptera. 



