7o 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



plants infested by these pests ; they also feed upon other small insects and 

 the eggs of insects; they are spindle-shaped (Fig. 113) and are furnished 

 with piercing and sucking mouth-parts like those of ant-lions. 



Nearly all aphis-lions arc naked ; but a few species cover themselves 

 with the skins of their victims and other debris. 



The cocoons are generally found on the lower sides of leaves or on the 

 supports of plants; they arc spherical and white and composed of dense 

 layers of silk. In order to emerge the insect cuts a circular lid from one side 

 of the cocoon; this is done by the pupa by means of its mandibles. After 

 emerging from its cocoon, the pupa crawls about for a short time before 

 changing to the adult state. 



Fig. 1 1 a. — Fore wing of a lace-wing fly, Chrysopa. 



The adults are often attracted to lights at night. A remarkable fact 

 in the life-history of these insects is the way in which the female cares 

 for her eggs. When about to lay an egg she emits from the end of her 

 body a minute drop of a tenacious substance; this she applies to the 

 object on which she is standing and then draws it out into a slender 

 thread by lifting the abdomen; then an egg is placed on the summit of 

 this thread, which dries at once and firmly holds the egg in mid-air. 



The eggs are often laid in groups which appear like a tiny forest of 

 white stems with a shining ball at the summit of each. 



Family Myrmeleonid^e 

 The Ant-lions 



The members of the family Myrmeleonidae are commonly known as 

 ant-lions. This name was suggested by the fact that the larvae of the 



best-known species, those 

 that dig pitfalls, feed 

 chiefly on ants. 



The adults are graceful 



creatures. The body is 



long and slender (Fig. 



115); the antennas are 



/ \ \J short and enlarged to- 



jj6«a BLj'^ tVjL// wards the end; the wings 



\3k ^P* eKtL are * OT1 S an d narrow and 



delicate in structure. 



The larvas have broad 



Fro. I1S .- Larva, cocoon with pupa-skin projecting, and adult of f nC |. SOmewhat depressed 



an Ant-lion. bodies which taper to- 



