the Biology of some British Neuroptem. 533 



commenced bursting. From then it continues until 

 October. 



Eggs are laid singly, on the brown, dry bud scales, and 

 on the undersides of leaves alongside the veins, etc. It 

 is not common to find as many as three or four eggs to- 

 gether. The length of the egg is -7 mm. and colour yellow- 

 ish-white. In shape quite typical of Hemerobius, long 

 oval, with white micro pylar knob and pitted chorion. 

 Colour becomes yellow, and the egg hatches in eight to 

 eleven days at 63° F. 



The larva is pale yellowish in colour, slightly bro^vnish 

 at the posterior extremity. The head bears no markings. 



In the second instar there are often indications of latero- 

 dorsal longitudinal brown lines. The head is immaculate, 

 somewhat smoky at the sides. 



Descrijition of Third-instar Larva. (Plate XL, fig. 2.) 



Length when full groAvn about 7 mm. Head hardly marked. 

 Body colour white, or more frcc^ucntly yellow, with more or less 

 wcll-delined brown latero-dorsal lines, often lacking. 



The head differs from that of most Hemerobiids in being almost 

 free from darker markings. It is yellowish-white in colour, slightly 

 blackish at the sides. There may be a faint indication of a central 

 wedge-shaped mark, but this is not usually very noticeable. Eyes 

 black; antennae decidedly blackish, except basal joint which is 

 paler. Jaws and palpi greyish. 



Prothorax with two brown lateio-dorsal bands, in which are 

 situated a pair of elongate, pale-coloured sclerites. In the mcso- 

 and mctathorax the latero-dorsal bands continue, and there is a 

 pair of small sunken sclerites per segment, joined transversely by 

 a blackish furrow. 



The abdomen is generally pale in colour, but latero-dorsal bands 

 may run the length of the body, fading, however, towards the 

 posterior extremity. There are one or two transverse dark furrows 

 per segment. A dark median line runs from the posterior third 

 of the prothorax almost to the extremity of the abdomen. Under- 

 side of body uniformly yellowish. Legs translucent whitish. 



This description is taken from a fully-marked specimen. 

 It is very common, however, to find larvae almost devoid 

 of markings, and, indeed, the commonest form on beech is 

 briefly as follows. 



Head immaculate, jialc 3"ellow, slightly blackish at the sides. 

 Antennae decidedly blackish, basal joint pale. Jaws and palpi 



