NEUROPTERA 291 



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

 antennag are short ; and the head is very small. When fully 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 Brazilian species, is partly 

 known. The larvag of this species live parasitically in 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 Spongilla-Flies 



The Sisyridag in- 

 clude a very limited 

 number of small, 

 smoky brown insects. 

 of the form showTi in 

 Figure 327. They are 

 called Spongilla-flies 

 because the larvse live ^ 

 as parasites in fresh- ^^^tho^^r'" '''''' ^''""^^^ ^"^^^S^d. (From 



water sponges, the 



typical genus of which is SpongUla. 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. 328) 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 found 

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



The larvae 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 

 transformations 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 umbrdta. — The form of the adult is shown in Figure 327; 

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

 of the abdomen are dirty yellowish. The length of the male to the 

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



