WEALTH OF INSECT LIFE 



167 



body almost to the head. 

 (Fig. 127.) When this is 

 straightened out the insect 

 is propelled several feet 

 forward. Frequently num- 

 bers of these little crea- 

 tures like minute specks Fl(i . i 27 . springtaii (cor U nothri.r bo- 

 can be seen upon snow. To K8 >- (^ter Tullberg.) 

 such the name snow-flea is applied. 



NEUROPTERA. 



Insects with two pairs of membranous wings, bit- 

 ing mouth-parts, metamorphosis complete in some di- 

 visions and in others incomplete. The name arises 

 from vevpov, neuron, nerve, and Trrepdv, pteron, wing. 

 The wings, accordingly, are in many cases noticeable 

 for the great amount of net-work. The front wing and 

 the hind wing of the same insect are frequently alike in 

 form, texture, and neuration. This order includes 

 many heterogeneous insects, and is an order which has 

 been subdivided by some authorities into a number of 

 other orders. It includes such forms as the dragon-fly, 

 May-fly, stone-fly, white ant, caddis-fly, and lacewing- 

 fly. A wingless form, the bird-louse, is included here. 

 A better understanding of the scope of the order will 

 be gained by a treatment of a few representative forms. 



May-Flies. 1 These insects, as the illustration will 

 show (Fig. 128), are characterized by two pairs of 

 membranous wings, the hinder pair being much smaller 

 than the front pair, and by the presence of two long, 

 thread-like abdominal appendages. They are peculiarly 



1 Family, Ephemerida-. 



