NEUROPTERA. 43 1 



FhryganecB, in the adult state, very much resemble moths. They ap- 

 proach them m having rudimentary mouths, and wings without 

 articulations, but furnished with small hairs, analogous to the scales 

 of Lepidoptera. _ They may be said to form a sort of connection be- 

 tween the Lepidoptera and Neuroptera. They have been called 

 Mouches papilionacch, or Papilionaceous Flies. The eggs laid by 

 the female Phryganea are enclosed in gelatinous capsules, which 

 swell in the water and attach themselves to stones, &c. The lar^•a 

 has the appearance of a little worm without feet. It is soon hatched, 

 and resembles at first a little black line, and may be easily reared in 

 an aquarium. The operation of making the silky case which it 

 draws after it, and which protects its abdomen, may then be observed. 

 When it is disturbed, it retreats entirely within its case. The interior 

 is smooth, and lined with mud ; on the exterior it is fortified with 

 stones, &c. 



The Phryganea rhombica (Figs. 415, 416, 417) furnishes its case 

 with bits of wood or grass, arranged as 

 shown in Fig. 418. Some species arrange 

 these bits of wood and glass in spiral, 

 others in parallel series. The Phryganea 

 flavicomis covers its dwelling with little 

 shells. " These kinds of dress," says 

 Reaumur, " are very pretty, but they are 

 also excessively singular. A savage who, 

 instead of being covered with furs, should 

 be covered with musk rats, moles, or 

 other entire animals, would have on an Fig. 418. 



J- , ^1 • • • , Regular cases of a Phryganea. 



extraordmary costume ; this is m some 

 sort the case with our larvae." Other 



Phryganece. employ for constructing the case which serves them as a 

 dwelling sand and small pebbles ; each species always employing the 

 same materials, unless they are entirely deprived of these and obliged 

 to employ others. These cases protect the larvae against the voracity 

 of their enemies. The larvae have a scaly head ; and the three first 

 rings of their body are harder than the rest. They live in water, and 

 breathe by means of branchious sacs, arranged on the abdomen in 

 soft and flexible tufts. They eat everything that is presented to them : 

 leaves, and even insects and the larvae of their own kind. The pup.'E 

 are motionless. They stay about a fortnight in their case, the orifice 

 of which is closed by gratings of silk, then break through the gratings, 

 and leave their prison. In this state (Fig. 419) they swim on the 

 water until they meet with an object to which they can attach them- 



