ORDER NEUROPTERA. 5 I 



Three principal families may be recognised — viz., LepesmidcB^ 

 Ca?npodeidce, d^nd JapygidcB. 



Tribe IX. — Collembola or Spring Tails. 



These insects closely resemble the previous tribe in general 

 character, to which also the same remarks nearly apply. 



They are generally small insects, a length of a quarter of an 

 inch being considerably above the average. They are found 

 commonly in loose earth, under decaying leaves in woods, in moss, 



Fig. 64. — Isotoma Gervaisi (Mag.) 



under the bark of dead trees, and in rotten stumps. They always 

 prefer damp situations. 



Cold seems to have but little effect upon them ; they will recover 

 their activity after being frozen. One species, Desoria glacialis, is 

 found enjoying itself upon the Swiss glaciers, and another, Degeeria 

 nivalis^ occurs upon the surface of snow in many parts of Europe. 

 Some species also may be met with hopping about upon the surface 

 of standing water. Podiira aquatica, a minute blue-black species, 

 is common in such situations in England, 



The five principal families are the S??iy?ithund(B, Fapyriidce, 

 Degeen'adcB, Poduridce^ and the Amour idee. 



LIBRARY 



UNIVERSmr OF IU(NQ(S 



