STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 307 



The Soldier bugs, which we are to consider as friends, are medium sized, shield- 

 ■shaped, vile-smelling insects, differing from beetles in having the wing covers ap- 

 parently crossed on the back, with the tips membraneous, and instead of jaws they 

 are provided with a strong jointed beak, which they thrust into any soft bodied in- 

 sect that they come across and suck out its life blood, leaving it when their appetite 

 is satisfied, shrunken and limp, never to recover. Arma spinoxa, a rather small, 

 dull, green species is one of the principal foes of the Colorado potato beetle, and of 

 some other very injurious grubs and worms. Most of these bugs are dressed in 

 very plain colors, but a few wear bright red or yellow military stripes. These are 

 among the most active and do not need to approach their victims "on the sly." 



The Lace wing flies and ant lions are among the few Neuropterous species that 

 -do not breed in th-i water. The perfect flies take but little food, but the larvae are 

 very voracious. The habits of some forms are very interesting and well repay the 

 observer for the time spent in watching them. Among these is the Ant-lion, an in- 

 sect resembling a small Dragon-fly but with a slender and rather short body and 

 disproportionately large, floppy wings, which are beautifully spotted but which is 

 does not seem to have sufficient muscular force to manage skillfully. The larvae 

 are jug-shaped with a horny head and long, sickle-shaped jaws. They are usu- 

 ally found in sandy situations in which with their jaws and strong front legs they 

 scoop out a funnel-formed hollow, hiding themselves at the bottom. If an insect 

 accidently runs into the open mouth of the funnel it is instantly bewildered and 

 brought down by a shower of sand thrown upon it by the waiting cannibal below, 

 which speedily devours it or such parts of it as may suit its taste. It then arranges 

 its trap for another victim. 



The Lace wing flies are beautiful and symetrical insects with four gauzy irri- 

 discent wings and golden and green bodies. The eggs of tne genus cJirysopa are 

 attached to the top of long thread like stalks in the midst, or very near a colony of 

 plant-lice. The larvae are slenderly oval in form, with strong, thoracic legs and 

 and scissor-like jaws. They are very voracious and destroy incredible numbers of 

 tlie lice. When full grown they enclose themselves in a dense, white, round or 

 oval cocoon prepared with a lid at one end which is pushed open by the fly in 

 emerging. The larvae of the genus Hemerobius cover their bodies with the skins of 

 their victims. 



The plant-lice have still' another deadly enemy in the larvae of va,r\ons SyrpJi us 

 flies. These are large, flattened, slim}^ maggots, very disgusting in appearance, but 

 very efficient in clearing the plants on which they are found of the little, vivapa- 

 rous sap suckers. The flies are usually somewhat longer than the common house- 

 fly; with more slender bodies which are in many species banded with bright colors. 



These are all the cannibalistic or predatory insects that I have time to mention at 

 present. 



The genuine parasites breed in the bodies of caterpillars and grubs and prevent 

 their development. I have had occasion to call your attention to some of these be- 

 fore, in connection with various leaf-feeding and fruit-feeding pests. 



The Tachina flies are among the most important of the two- winged parasites. 

 These closely resemble the house-fly in appearance and structure, but are usually 

 larger and have more hairy bodies. They go through their transformations within 

 the body of the ho^t insect, as a rule, but sometimes leave it to enter the ground. 



