NEUROPTERA. 



187 



2. Carnivorous Insects, subject to a complete metamorphosis, with 

 aquatic or terrestrial larvae. 



3. Carnivorous or omnivorous terrestrial Insects, subject to a semi- 

 metamorphosis. 



4. Herbivorous Insects, subject to a complete metamorphosis, with 

 aqviatic larvae, which construct portable dwellings. 



We will end with those species in which the wings are the least re- 

 ticulated, and which resemble Phaleense or Tineites. 



FAMILY I. 



SUBULICORNES, Lat* 



This family is composed of the order Odonata of Fabricius, and of 

 the genus Ephemera. The antennae are subulate, and hardly longer 

 than the head; they are composed of seven joints at most, the last of 

 which is cetaceous. The mandibles and the maxillae are completely 

 covered by the labrum and labium, or by the anterior and projecting 

 extremity of the head. 



The wings are always reticulated and distant, sometimes laid hori- 

 zontally and sometimes placed perpendicularly ; the inferior are as 

 large as the superior, or sometimes very small, and even wanting. 

 The ordinary eyes are very large and prominent in all of them ; and 

 they all have two or three ocelli situated between the former. The 

 two first periods of their life are passed in the bosom of the waters, 

 where they prey on living animals. 



The larvae and chrysalides, which approximates in form to the per- 

 fect Insect, respire by means of peculiar organs situated on the sides 

 or extremity of the abdomen. They issue from the water to undergo 

 their ultimate metamorphosis. 



In some the mandibles and maxillae are corneous, very strong, and 

 covered by the two lips; the tarsi are triirticulated ; the wings are 

 equal, and the posterior extremity of the abdomen is simply terminated 

 by hooks or laminiform or foliaceous appendages. They form the 

 Fabrician order of the Odonata, or the genus 



LiBELLULA, Lin. Geojf. 



The light and graceful figure {<f these Insects, the beautiful and va- 

 riegited colours with which they are adorned, their large wings, re- 

 sembling lustrous gauze, and the velocity with which they pursue the 



* A section, divided into two families, the Libellulin^e, ia my Fam. Nat. du 

 R^ga. Aaimai. 



o2 



