CHAPTER XIX. 



THE order Neuroptera (nerved wing), from the Greek 

 words, neuron, a nerve, and pteron, a wing, include a 

 great number of interesting insects. 



Westwood says : " This order is chiefly distinguished 

 by the structure of the wings, which are naked that is, 

 not enclosed by elytra or tegmina and furnished with a 

 great number of nerves, which gives the appearance, under 

 the microscope of a piece of beautiful network." 



" These nervures," says Newman (" History of Insects "), 

 " divide the membrane into small compartments called cells. 

 These cells are very constant in their form and proportion 

 in the same genus of insects, consequently their variations 

 distinguish one genus from another. The strong nervure 

 which runs along the upper edge of each wing, either on 

 the extreme edge or just below it, is called the costal nervure, 

 and the portion, if any, above the nervure the costal cell, or 

 if divided by minor nerves, costal cells. The incrassated 

 portion of this nervure, which is frequently observable at 

 about two-thirds of the distance from the body towards the 

 apex of the wing, is called the 

 stigma. The cells immediately 

 beyond the stigma, towards the 

 extreme point of the wing, are 

 called marginal cells. The wings 

 of all insects present a somewhat WING OF A NEUROPTEROUS 

 triangular figure." 



"The form of the wing in ' ^fej^lZ^ 

 Neuroptera is generally somewhat 



elongated, as well as the body, and particularly the abdomen. 

 The head is often large, the compound eyes very large ; 

 some have only simple or stemmatic eyes. The habits in the 



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