NEUROPTERA 291 



scarabeiform (Fig. 326, B); the legs are much reduced in size; the 

 antenna are short ; and the head is very small. When fullv grown this 

 larva measures from 7 to 10 mm. in length. It then spins a cocoon, 

 and changes to a pupa within the skin of the larva. Later the larval 

 skin is cast; and, finally, after being in the cocoon about a month, 

 the pupa becomes active, pierces the cocoon and the egg-sac, and 

 crawls about for a time (Fig. 326, C) ; later it changes to the adult 

 form (Fig. 326, D). 



The life-history of Symphasis vdria, a Bradlian species, is partly 

 known. The larv£e of this species live parasiticallv i 1 the nests of 

 wasps; when full-grown each larva spins a cocoon "in one of the cells 

 of the nest. 



Only a few representatives of this family occur in the United States, 

 and all are rare insects. 



Family SISYRID^ 

 The Spoil gilla-Flies 



The Sisyridce in- 

 clude a very limited 

 number of small, 

 smoky brown insects, 

 of the form shown in 

 Figure 327. They are 

 called Spongilla-jiies 

 because the larvae live 

 as parasites in fresh- 

 water sponges, the 

 typical genus of which is Spongilla. Two interesting features of these 

 insects are the comparative simplicity of the wing-venation of the 

 adults, and the anomalous habits of the larvae. 



The more striking characteristics of the wings (Fig. 3 28) are the 

 following : The costal area of the fore wings is not greatly broadened ; 

 the humeral vein is not recurrent and is not branched. Veins Sc and 

 Ri coalesce near the apex of the wing. The radial sector is pectinately 

 branched; but no definitive accessory veins have been developed; 

 this is the simplest form of pectinately branched radial sector foimd 

 in the fore wings in this order. Marginal accessory veins are present. 



The larvce are aquatic and live in fresh-water sponges, upon 

 which they feed. The life-history of a representative of each of the 

 two genera, Sisyra and Climacia, which constitute this family, was 

 worked out by Professor Needham ('01); and the anatomy and 

 transfonnations of a species of Sisyra were carefully studied by Miss 

 Anthony ('02). The following notes are based on the accounts 

 published by these authors. 



Sisyra mnbrdta. — The form of the adult is shown in Figure 327; 

 its color is nearly unifoiTn blackish brown. The legs and the apex 

 of the abdomen are dirty 3'ellowish. The length of the male to the 

 tips of the wings is 6 mm ; that of the female, 8 mm. 



Fig. 327. — Sisyra nmbrata, greatly enlarged. (From 

 Anthony.) 



