CLASS LNSECTA: ORDEK, NEUROPTERA. 



Forficula 



auricularia, 



Earwig. 



Fig. 



Forficulidae. The Earwig * sits upon r ^- 38L 

 its eggs till they are hatched, and then broods 

 its young as a hen does its chickens. 



ORDER NEUROPTERA. 



General Characteristics. The Neu- 

 roptera (nerve- winged) have an elongated 

 body with four membranous wings of beau- 

 tiful network, minutely subdivided. The 

 metamorphosis is not always complete. None 



of them are injurious to living 

 plants. 



LibeHulidae. The Dragon- 

 fly (or Devil's Darning- 

 needle) has very large com- 

 pound eyes and also three 

 ocelli on the top of the head. 

 It feeds upon mosquitoes, flies, 

 etc. It has no sting, and is 

 perfectly harmless. The larvae 

 pass through their transforma- 

 tions in the water. 



Myrmeleonidse. The 

 Ant-lion in repose folds its 

 wings like a roof upon the 

 sides of the body. The larvas 

 dig funnel-shaped pitfalls in 

 the sand, and lie concealed at 

 the bottom, snapping up any 

 insect that tumbles in, and 

 even tossing a shower of sand 

 to destroy the foothold of any 

 victim that tries to escape up 

 the sloping sides. (Fig. 383.) 



Libellula depressa, Calapttryx virgo, 

 Larva of Dragon-fly. 



* This insect must not be confounded with the " Thousand-legs," which bears the 

 same popular name. The term Earwig should be Ear-wing, their large wings when 

 expanded having the shape of ears. 



