INSECT LIFE IN INDIA AND HOW TO STUDY IT. 



383 



tissue appear on the leaves, but whether these are due to the 



insect or whether the insect is merely feed- 

 ing upon a fungus which is causing the 

 discolouration has yet to be determined. 

 The insect is a minute yellow one, both 

 wingless larva? and winged individuals 

 being present. (See Fig. 28.) The family 



„ , ,^ , has up to date onlv been reported as feed- 



Fig. 28.— Psocn<?)sp. (Debra l *■ 



Dun, North India), ing upon rust fungi, vegetable refuse, etc. 



Fam. IV. Odonata Libillulidse.— Dragon Flies. 



Elongate insects with a very mobile head and large eyes, strong 

 mandibles and a broad lip, the antennse being small, inconspicuous, 

 and ending in a bristle. "Wings four in number and elongate, of equal 

 size, and similar texture. All the legs are placed more anteriorly than 

 the wings (See Fig. 29). The earlier stages of their life are spent in 

 water, the larvse breathing by means of tracheal gills. The metamor- 

 phosis is incomplete, but there is a great change in the appearance of 

 the insect at the last moult. The attachment of the head to the thorax 

 is such that it enables the insect to move the former round with great 

 ease. The eye3 are often enormous and occupy the greater part of 

 the head. Three ocelli are present. 



The family is carnivorous, and the mature insect catches its prey on 

 the wing. The eggs 

 are deposited either in 

 water or on the steins 

 of some aquatic plant. 

 The young on hatching 

 out have no wings and 

 are quite unlike the ma- 

 ture insect. The wings 

 begin to appear at the 

 fourth moult or change 

 of skin. The family is 

 not of imp o r t a n c e 

 economically. Fig. 23 

 shows a large dragon- 

 fly, Tetinus rapax com- 

 mon in Calcutta and 

 Fig. 29 a graceful 

 emerald green bodied 

 2 



Fig. 29. — The green winged dragon fly. Neuroba&is 

 ch'munsis* (Assam.) 



