NEUROPTERA. 220, 



green ; with the legs, antennae, rostrum, and ovipositor black, and 

 the rudimentary wings brownish black. Both species are found 

 on the snow throughout the entire winter. They also occur in moss 

 on tree-trunks. It is not known whether they feed on the mi 

 upon Thysanurians and other small insects which they find there. 

 These insects have long legs, and are able to leap to a limited ex- 

 tent. The females are furnished with a long, curved ovipositor, re- 

 sembling that of a cricket. The early stages of our species have 

 not been studied. The larva of a European species has been found 

 throughout the summer in the ground and upon stones under Liver- 

 worts. 



The Scorpion-flies, Panorpa. — These are our most common rep- 

 resentatives of the family. They are called scorpion-flies on account 

 of the peculiar form of the caudal part of the abdomen of the male. 

 Tlx*3 at first sight suggests the corresponding part of a scorpion : 

 but in reality the form is very different. The last 

 segment, instead of ending in a sting like that of a 

 scorpion, is greatly enlarged, and bears a pair of clasp- 

 ing organs. The wings are narrow, but are well 

 developed, being longer than the body. In our 

 more common species they are yellowish spotted 

 with brownish black. The earl)' stages of several 

 European species have been studied. The eggs FlG ^ 95 a ^ u y 1 t"' < "" 

 are laid in a mass in a shallow hole, which the female 

 bores with her abdomen in damp earth. The larvae are remarkable 

 on account of their great resemblance to caterpillars."" Not only is the 

 form of the body like that of Lepidopterous larvae, but the abdomen 

 is furnished with fleshy prop-legs. There are, however, eight pairs 

 of these ; while caterpillars never have more than five pairs. The 

 larvae which were kept in confinement were fed raw beef; the}' made 

 horseshoe-shaped mines in the earth, one end of which opened be- 

 neath the meat. Their natural food is unknown. 



Bittacus. — The insects of this genus resemble the scorpion-flies 

 in having long, narrow wings, three ocelli, and very slender, seta- 

 ceous antennae. But the caudal appendages of the male are not 

 enlarged as in Panorpa. The legs of Bittacus are very long; this 

 with the narrow wings and slender abdomen cause these insects to 

 resemble Crane-flies. They are predaceous, the European species 



* The larv.-E of three species are figured by Kraucr, Verhandl. der k. k. zool. bot. 

 Gesellsch., Band XIII. taf. 13. 



