THE CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS 75 



in Northern India and the American continent, in- 

 cludes species which are remarkable for their gigantic 

 size and the enormously developed mandibles of the 

 males. 



The snake - flies (Raphidiidce) are relatively small 

 insects, easily recognised by the snake-like appearance of 

 the head and thorax, whence the popular name. The 

 larvae are very active, and live in rotten wood, or under 

 loose bark, where they feed upon small insects. Snake- 

 flies are confined to the northern regions of the Old World 

 and to North America. There are three or four British 

 species. 



The ant-lion flies (Myrmeleonidce) are especially in- 

 teresting on account of the habits of their larva?, some 

 of which form conical pits and thus entrap their prey. 

 Others lurk in crevices, or hunt in the open. A spherical 

 cocoon is formed by the larva before it assumes the pupal 

 state. The adult insects have a superficial resemblance 

 to dragon-flies, but they have relatively long, clubbed 

 antenna?. They are represented in most tropical and tem- 

 perate regions, ranging into southern Sweden, but no 

 species is found in Britain. The Ascahphidce are closely 

 allied to the preceding family, which they resemble in 

 their structure and metamorphosis ; but their clubbed 

 antennae are much longer. In Europe, the family is 

 represented only in the Mediterranean region. 



The Nemopteridce are distinguished by their long, 

 narrow hind-wings, while their antennae are not clubbed 

 at the tip. The larvae are of the ant-lion type, but 

 possess elongated necks, not unlike those of snake-flies, 

 and are very remarkable in appearance. This family is 

 represented in Western and Central Asia, in South 

 America, as well as in the Mediterranean region and 

 Northern Africa. Another little family, the Mantispidae, 



