NEUROPTERA. 225 



legs are bunched at the further end of the thorax near 

 the abdomen. (Fig. 93.) 



The ant lion is one of the most interesting members 

 of the order while it is in its larval stage. The adult 

 ant lion lays her egg in the sand; and the larva, im- 

 mediately upon hatching, digs for itself a pit in the sand, 

 hollowing it out carefully and smoothing off the sloping 

 sides. Then it carefully digs under at the bottom of this 

 pit, leaving nothing of itself visible except its head and 



FIG. 93. A false rear horse or mantispa. 



sharp jaws. There it lies, quietly, but keeping sharp 

 watch ; and when an ant comes scurrying along with some 

 big burden, intent only upon getting home, over it goes 

 into the pit, the treacherous sand giving way under its 

 feet. After many more meals of the same kind, the old 

 larva hollows out for itself a burrow in the sand, lines 

 it with silken threads, and there pupates. The adult 

 has four membranous wings, thickly crossed with veins 

 and usually more or less spotted with brown or black. 



All of the members of the order are valuable insects, 

 feeding upon other insects which are harmful ; hence none 

 of the order should be carelessly hunted, nor killed 

 without good and sufficient reason. 



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