INSECTS 



383 



character situated just within the egg-shell. But this requires 

 confirmation. 



The eggs of some of the slender water - bugs (species of 

 Ranatrd] are of elongated shape, with a couple of sharply-bent 

 threads at one end. The female insect stands on a floating leaf 



Fig. 903. Eggs of Water- Bugs 



A, Under side of bit of floating leaf, with attached eggs of Ranatra. B, Single egg of same with small piece 

 of leaf, X 4. c, Isolated egg of same, X 8. D, Egg of Nepa cinerea, X 7. 



and makes a small hole through which the egg is passed, when 

 the threads catch at the side of the hole, acting as a suspensory 

 arrangement. The leaf is thus converted into a nursery, and 

 large numbers of these eggs may sometimes be found hanging 

 down from its under side. 



B. INSECTS WITH COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS 



NET-WINGED INSECTS (NEUROPTERA). Of the purely terres- 

 trial forms belonging to this order, the Termites or White Ants 

 (Termitidce), which live together in complex communities, are 

 undoubtedly the most interesting, but these will be dealt with 

 further on, under the heading ASSOCIATION OF ANIMALS. 



Many Net- Winged Insects spend the early part of their 

 existence in ponds or streams, and some of their adaptations to 

 an aquatic life have already received attention (see vol. ii, p. 463). 

 We may take the Dragon- Flies (Odonata, fig. 904) as a typical 

 example. The eggs are laid either in water or upon aquatic 

 plants, a number of them being usually imbedded in a jelly-like 



