MECOPTERA 



553 



The females lay their eggs in crevices in the earth. The larvs 

 are caterpillar-like in form; they have three pairs of true legs and 

 eight pairs of abdominal prolegs; and the body is armed with promi- 

 nent spines (Fig. 68 1 ) ; the larvee are carnivorous. The transformation 

 takes place in a cell in the ground. 



Panorpodes. — The members of this genus resemble Panorpa in 

 general appearance, and as in that genus the abdomen of the male is 

 furnished with a pair of clasping organs; but in 

 Panorpodes the tarsal claws are simple. Only two 

 species have been described from North America. 

 These are not common; and but little is known 

 regarding their habits. 



Merope. — This genus includes only a single known 

 species, Merope tuber. This is an exceedingly rare 

 insect. In this genus the wings are comparatively 

 wide (Fig. 682) ; and there are many cross-veins ex- 

 tending from the subcosta to the costa. I have 



figured the venation 

 of the wings in "The 

 Wings of Insects" 

 (Comstock '18 a). 

 The ocelli are wanting. 

 The abdomen of the 

 male is terminated by 

 a pair of long, stout 

 forceps. This is prob- 

 ably a nocturnal insect 

 as it is attracted to 

 lights at night. Its 

 life-history is un- 

 known. 



Boreus. — This ge- 

 nus includes small Ale- 

 coptera, our species 

 measuring from 2.5 

 mm. to 5 mm. in 

 length, which are of- 

 ten found on snow in 

 winter. The wings of the female are vestigial or wanting; those of 

 the male, imperfectly developed. The ocelli are wanting. The female 

 has a long, protruding ovipositor, which in some species is nearly as 

 long as the abdomen. The larva differs from that of Panorpa in 

 lacking the abdominal prolegs. The pupa state is passed in an earthen 

 cell in the ground. Four American species have been described, two 

 from the East and two from the West. 



BUtacus. — Insects belonging to this genus have long, narrow 

 wings, long legs, and a slender abdomen. They resemble crane-flies 

 very closely when on the wing, but can be distinguished by the 

 presence of two pairs of wings. They are almost as common as 



Fig. 682. — Merope tuber, slightly- 

 enlarged. (Photographed by 

 J. G. Needham.) 



Fig. 68 1. -Larva of 

 Panorpa rufes- 

 cens, first instar. 

 (After Felt.) 



