Order PLATYPTERA. 



This is an aggregation of loosely-jointed species, very few of which 

 occur in our State. It is not numerous at best and, as represented with us, 

 consists of rather large forms, the head as broad or broader than the 

 square or oblong thorax, the mandibles large and sometimes prominent, 

 antennas many-jointed and often pectinated in the male. The wings are 

 large, net-veined, the posterior not much the larger and folded only once 

 near the anal angle when at rest beneath the anterior pair which covers 

 them. The early stages are passed in the water, under stones or among 

 the vegetation at the bottom of running streams. The larvae are rather 

 long and flattened, usually blackish, and breathe by means of a series of 

 gill-tufts. When full grown they crawl on shore, burrow into the soil, or 

 an old stump, or under a stone and pupate; the transformatio'ns are com- 

 plete. 



Fig. 12. Corydalis cornuta: a, larva, "hellgramite" or "dobson"; b, pupa; c, male 

 adult; d, head of female, showing the comparatively small jaws; natural size. 



(55^ 



