[25] 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS RILEY. 



by the common species, Psocus venoms (see Fig. 40). The legs and 

 antenna' are long and slender and the wings are folded roof-like over 

 the body Avhen the insect is at rest. They feed 'on lichens and dry 

 vegetation. 



The Termitido? are represented in this 

 country by the White-ant (Termes flavipes), 

 which is frequently so destructive to wood- 

 work, books, etc. The term White- ant ap- 

 plied to these insects is unfortunate, as in 

 structure they are widely separated from 

 ants and resemble them only in general ap- 

 pearance and also in their social habits. 

 Like the ants they live in colonies and have 

 a number of distinct forms, as winged and wingless, males and females, 

 and workers and soldiers. 



Suborder PLECOPTERA (-/ex-roc, plaited; -rs^v, wing). Closely allied 

 to the latter suborder is the suborder Plecoptera, which includes the 



single family Perlido? or Stone- 

 flies. The larvae and pupte of 

 these insects are aquatic, being 

 often found under stones in 

 water, whence the name. The 

 adults are long, flattened 



FIG. 40. Psocus venosus. 

 Comstock.) 



i From 



111- 



FIG. 



41. A Stone-fly (Pteronarcys regalis). 

 Comstock.) 



(From 



sects, with long autemue. The 



wings are ample and are some- 

 what folded or plaited, from 

 which character the suborder 

 takes its name. 



Suborder ODONATA (>w> ? , 

 tooth). This includes the Drag- 

 on-flies or Libellulida-*, the most 

 common and the best known of 

 the Neuroptera. The larva and the active pupa or nymph are aquatic 

 and are predaceous, as is also the adult. A common species is repre- 

 sented at Fig. 33. 



The Suborder EPHEMEROPTERA (tyjj>e/ov, a day-fly ; ~Tsp<', wing) com- 

 prises the May-flies, or Ephemerida? (see Fig. 42). 

 These insects are very fragile and are often at- 

 tracted in enormous numbers to electric lights. 

 They have large front wings, while the hind wings 

 are small, rudimentary, or wanting. They are fur- 

 nished with two or three very long, jointed, thread- 

 like caudal appendages. The larval and nymphal 

 stages are passed in the water and aquatic vegeta- 

 tion furnishes the food, although some species may FIG. 42.- A Mny-tiy 



, ,-f,. , , , -, manthus marginatits) . 



be predaceous. The adults have very rudimentary ( F,,,, n i> ;1 , .k, u ,i . 



