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FAMILY— LACE WINGS. 

 (Family Chrysopidae.) 



These pretty, delicate-looking little members of 

 the Neuroptera have just claim to their popular 

 name. The wings are transparent, and more closely 

 veined than the finest net. The lace wings are re- 

 cognised by a few outstanding features. The larva 

 is provided with a pair of sucking jaws, which pro- 

 ject beyond the head. The pupa is enclosed in a 

 cocoon. Metamorphosis is great and complete. 

 The larva and perfect insect may be found on plants 

 where aphides are abundant. The adult is fre- 

 quently found around the light at night time. 



One of the best known is a pretty green creature, 

 familiarly known as "golden eye" (Chrysopa sig- 

 nata). This measures over an inch across the out- 

 stretched wings, and the head is adorned with a 

 pair of bright, jewel like eyes. The eggs are small, 

 oval, creamish-looking bodies, each of which is de- 

 posited at the end of a rather long thread-like stalk 

 (Plate 12, Fig. i), such stalk as a rule being attached 

 to or near the plant on which the food of the larvae 

 is found. 



In captivity a green lace wing fastened about 

 twenty of these stalked eggs to the inside of a glass 

 jar. 



The larva (Plate 12, Fig. 3). at first tiny, grows to 



