54 



INSECT LIFE. 



It will not thrive in an ordinary aquarium, but it 

 can be kept alive in one through which there is a 

 current of well-aerated water flowing. If such an 

 aquarium is lacking, specimens can be kept alive on 

 damp sand or in a box with freshly cut grass, for 

 this is a truly amphibious species. 



As this insect lives nearly three years in the 

 larval state, larvas can be found at any season of the 



year. In the latter part of 

 May or early in June the 

 full-grown larvas leave the 

 water, and each makes a 

 cell under a stone or some 

 other object on or near 

 the bank of the stream. 

 Here they soon change to 

 pupas. These are white 

 and have prominent wing- 

 pads. In about a month 

 after the larva leaves the 

 water the adult insect ap- 

 pears. Fig. 1 26 represents 

 the male, which has re- 

 markably long mandibles. 

 The female resembles the 

 male, except that the man- 

 dibles are comparatively 

 short. Soon after the 

 adults appear the eggs are 

 laid. These are attached to 

 stones or other objects overhanging the water ; they 

 are laid in blotchlike masses which are chalky-white 

 in color, and measure from half an inch to nearly an 



Fig. 126.— The adult dobson or 

 horned Corydalis, male. 



