ORDER MECOPTERA 169 



shortly afterward. They produce a number of generations 

 each year. 



Ant Lions (Myrmelconidoe). — ^The ant Hons are closely 

 related to the preceding. They look much the same, and 

 the only difference is the large antennae which stand out 

 and are thickened at the tip. They have large, equal-sized 

 wings and long, cylindrical abdomens. The wings are, dis- 

 tinctly net-veined. These ant lions appear in midsummer 

 as adults and eggs are deposited presumably in the latter 

 part of the summer. Whether they pass the winter in the 

 egg stage or whether the larvse are partially developed is 

 uncertain. But during the early part of the season and a 

 large part of the summer the larvae may be found in sandy 

 places forming little pits in the sand in the bottom of which 

 they secrete themselves for the capture of ants and other 

 small animals which may wander into the pits. They travel 

 backward in changing their location, moving just beneath 

 the surface and leave a very definite furrow on the surface 

 of the sand. At one end of the furrow is usually a pit where 

 the larva is secreted. After acquiring their growth they 

 build a little spherical cocoon and within this they change 

 some time later to the chrysalis stage. The adult stage is 

 reached in, possibly, a two-year cycle. 



Order MECOPTERA (Scorpion Flies). 



In this order the species are usually four-winged, although 

 in some cases the wings are reduced or aborted. The wings 

 when occurring are not folded, have numerous veins, and 

 often are marked with distinct spots or blotches. The head 

 is much modified, being elongated so as to form a sort of beak 

 at the end of which are the small mandibles and the other 

 mouth parts. The metamorphosis is complete and the larval 

 stage is somewhat caterpillar-like in general structure. 



The order includes the family PanorpidcB and in this 

 family are a number of common species, but few of them have 

 any particular economic importance. They have usually 

 eight pairs of prolegs or abdominal legs so that they may 



