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AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



the prothorax is greatly elongated ; but the members of this family can 



be easily recognized by their re- 

 markable fore legs, which are great- 

 ly enlarged and resemble those of 

 the praying mantes in form (Fig. 

 325). These legs are fitted for seiz- 

 ing prey; and, in order that they 

 may reach farther forward, they are 

 joined to the front end of the long 

 prothorax. In the adult stage, 

 these insects are predacious; while 

 the larvae, so far as is known, are 

 parasitic. 



Brauer ('69) described the trans- 

 formations of Mantispa styriaca, a 

 European species. This insect 

 undergoes a hypermetamorphosis. 

 It was accidentally discovered that the larvffi were parasitic in the 

 egg-sacs of spiders of the genus Lycosa. These are the large black 



Fig. 325. — Mantispa. In the speci- 

 men figured the fore legs were 

 twisted somewhat in order to 

 show the form of the parts. 



Fig. 326. — ^Hypermetamorphosisof ilfaw.'i5/?a. (From Henneguy, after Brauer.) 



spiders which are common tinder stones, and which carry their egg-sacs 

 with them. Brauer obtained eggs from a female Mantispa kept in 

 confinement. These eggs were rose-red in color, and fastened upon 

 stalks, like the eggs of Chrysopa. The eggs were laid in July; and 

 the larvfe emerged 2 1 days later. The yoimg larvee are campodeiform 

 (Fig. 326, A); they are very agile creatures, with a long, slender 

 body, well-developed legs, and long, slender antennas. They pass the 

 winter without food. In the spring they find their way into the egg- 

 sacs of the above-nam.ed spiders. Here they feed upon the yotmg 

 spiders; and the body becomes proportionately thicker. Later 

 the larva molts and undergoes a remarkable change in form, becom- 

 ing what is known as the second larva; in this stage the larva is 



