192 



Marvels of Insect Life. 



Plwlo by] 



Scorpion-Fly. 



The scorpion-fly is so called because the last three joints of the male's body are v- 

 curled over the back, after the manner of the scorpion's tail. The mouth is iL 

 a long, straight beak with mandibles at its tip, with which it captures and destroys ■ 



[H. Bastin. 



■r I11-. 



common species ^ may 

 be seen frequently in 

 bushy places chasing 

 other tiies and killing 

 them. The eggs are 

 laid in a mass, in the 

 ground. 



The grubs are 

 much like those of saw- 

 flies, and ha\'e, besides 

 the three pairs of true 

 legs on the segments 

 of the fore-bodv, as 

 many as eight pairs of 

 temporary feet on the 

 first segments of the 

 hind-body. Before the 

 first change of skin 

 they are covered with 

 numerous spines, but 

 with the exception of the largest of these on the last segment, which are repeated 

 with each change of skin, they are thrown off at the first moult. They burv them- 

 selves in the ground, and appear to feed upon decaying vegetable or animal matter ; 

 though Brauer succeeded in rearing newly hatched grubs in a vessel containing 

 damp earth, upon which he laid a piece of meat. The grubs buried themselves in 

 the earth, and he considers that they were nourished with the meat or its juices. 

 He also discovered a batch of larvae in a moss-covered tree-stump, which was shared 

 by many ants, who appeared to be on quite friendly terms with the scorpion-fly 

 grubs. 



We have three native species of scorpion-flies, of which two are quite common 

 and the third scarce. But we have also an allied species - of the same family, which, 

 unfortunately, has no popular name, but which should be mentioned in this place. 

 It is a small creature — less than a quarter of an inch long — but it has the long beak 

 of the scorpion-fly and the long legs. It never develops wings, and so its general 

 shape and the long hind-legs, which look as though intended for leaping, give it 

 the appearance of a larval grasshopper. This appearance is specially strong in the 

 case of the female, for her hind-body ends in a long, stout egg-placer. It must be 

 looked for among moss, but does not put in an appearance until late in autumn, 

 continuing through the winter to early spring. It is so hard\- that it has been 

 found in winter leaping about on the surface of snow. Another member-^ of the 

 family does not occur in these islands, but is found in various parts of the Continent. 

 It might easily be mistaken, as one of its scientific names indicates, for a " daddy 

 long-legs," for its hind-body is long and slender and its legs very long. It is said to 

 use its feet for capturing and holding Insects whilst it devours them. The early 

 stages of both boreus and bittacus are, according to I'.raucr, mucli like those 



1 Panorpa communis. 2 j^oreus hiemalis. » liittacus tiinilaiis. 



