﻿HABITS AND STRUCTURE OF INSECTS. 



101 



CHAPTER XIY, 



HABITS AND STRUCTURE OF mSECTS (cOXCLUDEd). 



94. The May-ilj, or Ephemera^ is one of tlie most com- 

 mon insects in the Western States. Tliej live only a few 

 weeks in their perfect state, oftentimes but a few days. 

 Their eggs are laid in the water, and the larvge live in the 

 water two or three years. At the end of this time they 

 come to the surface in immense numbers, and, shedding 

 their skins, come out as winged insects. At this time they 

 resemble their perfect state £0 closely, that the name svh- 



FiG. 97.— Larva of Ephemeea. 



(Reduced from Fijure by J. H. Euaerton, in Dr. A. S Packard's Directions for collecting 



Insects, Smithsonian Institution.) 



imagos is given to them in this condition. They often fly 

 a considerable distance from the water, alighting on the 

 ground and trees. Here they again shed their skin, and 

 then have attained their perfect state. 



