HOW TO KNOW THE IMMATURE INSECTS 



Fig. 16. Eggs on the back 

 of male insects: o, Phyl- 

 lomorpha laciniata; b. 

 Western water bug, Abe- 

 dus sp. 



live in the ant's nest 

 (called inquilines). 



giant water bugs, Belastoma, Serphes and 

 Abedus deposit their eggs on the back of 

 males where they remain until hatched. Some 

 most interesting cases are those insects which 

 impose upon other species. The water boat- 

 man, Ramphoconxa acuminata, attaches its 

 eggs to the body of a crayfish. The human 

 bot fly, DermafoJbia hominis, uses the mos- 

 quito to transport its eggs to man. The bot- 

 fly visits marshy places where mosquitoes 

 are emerging. It seizes a mosquito and de- 

 posits 10 to 12 eggs on the abdomen and legs 

 of the mosquito, after which it releases its 

 hold. When the mosquito visits man, the 

 warmth of his body causes the botfly eggs 

 to hatch and the young maggots dig into the 

 flesh of the victim. The females of the Euro- 

 pean beetle, Clythra quadrimaculata, deposit 

 their eggs on the foliage of birch or other 

 trees. These are covered with excrement and 

 resemble small bracts of the plant. The ants 

 pick these up apparently mistaking them for 

 bits of vegetable refuse, and take them into 

 their nests. When the eggs hatch the larvae 

 as guests 



The ravenous larvae known as 

 aphid lions hatch from eggs held 

 erect on slender threads (fig. 17) 

 and are thus supposedly prevented 

 from eating the unhatched eggs. 



Fig. 17. Eggs of the ophid lion. 



NYMPHS 



The term nymph is obtained from the Greek word meaning bride 

 or maiden. In mythology, a nymph was one of the inferior deities of 

 Nature, represented by a beautiful maiden, who inhabitated the 

 mountains, forests and water. In entomology, a nymph is one of the 

 immature instars of insects with a gradual metamorphosis. The im- 

 mature stages of Orthoptera, Isoptera, Hemiptera, Homoptera, Thysan- 

 optera, Anoplura, Dermaptera, Mallophaga and Corrodentia are known 

 as nymphs. Nymphs have certain characters in common. The wings 

 develop on the exterior of the body (some in the later instars). Com- 

 pound eyes are usually present, and the species are mostly terrestrial. 



