90 



ELEMENTARY LESSONS ON INSECTS 



ant and drag it down under the sand. If 

 at first it fails, it may toss sand into the 

 air to fall on the ant and drive it down- 

 ward within reach. 



4. Toss a living ant-lion out on the 

 surface and see it run backward and dig 

 into the sand again. 



5. Note how the sand grains are held 

 about the body by the curved and ap- 

 pressed hairs that cover it. 



6. Destroy the pitfalls and see them 

 renewed over night. 



7. Throw a living orl fly larva into a 

 dish of water whose bottom is covered 



with fine, clean-washed sand and see it "dig in." 



B. The Study of Preserved Specimens. 



I. The lace-wing 

 a. The Adult: 

 With an adult in hand, note: 



1. The general green color of the body. 



2. The distinctness of the three regions of the body, 

 head, thorax and abdomen. 



3. The long, slender antennae. 



4. The hemispherical, shining eyes. 



5. The biting mouthparts with rapacious jaws. 



Fig. 34. — An ant- 

 lion (larva) removed 

 from the sand. 



