44 



COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS. 



NEUROPTERA. 



DRAGON FLIES, MAY FLIES, CADDIS FLIES, ETC. 



These insects, the young of which frequently live in fresh 

 water ponds and streams, should be pinned through the centre 

 of the thorax, the smaller and more delicate kinds immediately 

 on capture should be pinned in the collecting box. 



The Psoci (Fig. 45, Coecilius) live on leaves and the bark 



Fig. 43. Fig. 44. 



Libellula (Dragon Fly). Agrion. 



of trees, and are more or less social. They closely resemble 

 the Aphis. 



As regards the preservation of the dragon flies, Mr. Uhler 

 states that "the large, brilliant green dragon flies (Cordulina), 

 as well as the yellow, brown-striped Gomplrina, having the 

 Fig, 45. eyes wide apart, will furnish new 



species in almost all parts of the 

 country. In order to preserve 

 specimens in the neatest manner it 

 is well to slip them immediately, 

 when caught, into paper bags of 

 suitable size ; first taking care to 

 lay back the wings so that they 

 Cadiius. will be applied together, to prevent 



mutilation. These paper bags may be placed loosely in a box 

 carried for the purpose. They can thus be taken out at leis- 

 ure, killed by applying a camel's hair pencil, dipped in sulphu- 

 ric ether, chloroform, or benzine, to the under side of the body, 

 and then have the wings spread by placing them upon the set- 

 ting boards. In most species the colors change after death, 



