1899] Fletcher — Chrysopa Larva in a New Role. 193 



CHRYSOPA LARVA IN A NEW ROLE. 



Recently I received from my friend the Rev. Father Burke, of 

 Alberton, Prince Edward Island, one of the curious cocoons of the 

 Lace-winged Fly {^Chrysopa sp.) with the statement that the larva 

 had bitten a friend of his three times. I was somewhat surprised 

 at this and wrote for further particulars, when, at Father Burke's 

 request, the following interesting letter was written by Mr. John 

 T. Weeks, of Alberton, P.E.I. : 



" In reference to the insect forwarded to you by Rev. A. E. 

 Burke, I may say that a few nights before enclosing the insect, 

 my little girl was rehearsing her lesson to me when I lelt some- 

 thing bite me on the back of my neck. I put up my hand but 

 could not feel anything. Shortly afterwards I felt another bite, 

 and still could not catch anything. It bit again, and 1 pulled off 

 my coat and vest and asked my little girl to look if th.'re was 

 anything on the back of my neck. She found the insect in ques- 

 tion, and I put my magnifying glass on it, and as it was different 

 from any insect I had ever seen, I brought it to my office to show 

 it to Father Burke, when he suggested that we enclose it to you. 

 It agrees exactly with your drawing in your letter to Father 

 Burke." 



The Lace-winged flies are extremely interesting not only for 

 their predaceous habits which make them rank amongst the most 

 beneficial insects, but from their remarkable transformations. The 

 eggs are beautifully netted and are borne erect on slender hair- 

 like pedicels. The larvcC are active elongated creatures tapering 

 to each end and furnished with long scissor-like hollow mandibles 

 by means of which they seize their prey. This consists, ordinarily, 

 of other insects, chiefly plant lice, of which they destroy enormous 

 numbers. The jaws are hollow, and through them they suck up 

 their liquid food. When full grown these larvee spin small round 

 pearl-like cocoons, which are remarkable for their exceeding small- 

 ness, as compared with the size of the larva which packs itself 

 away inside them, and the large size of the gauzy-winged, golden- 

 eyed, but terribly malodorous fly which emerges from them. 



J. FLETCHER. 



