380 ORDERS OF PTILOTA. 



during the preceding autumn, nnd are destined to become the 

 foundresses of fresh colonies, upon the arrival of spring. In 

 their perfect state, they feed almost exclusively upon the 

 honey of flowers. Some, indeed, have been said to feed 

 upon other insects, but these observations have been made 

 upon a casual occurrence, or upon insects which were in the 

 act of securing the supply of food for their progeny. In the 

 tropical countries, the species attain the largest size ; there, 

 too, they appear to be the most abundant. 



The situation of this order in the classification of insects 

 is especially interesting. The possession of a pair of robust 

 mandibles necessarily places it amongst the Mandibulata or 

 masticating insects, whilst the elongated structure of the 

 lower parts of the mouth, forming a proboscis for sucking up 



the honey of flowers, seems to unite it with the haustellated 

 or sucking insects. Latreille has accordingly placed it be- 

 tween the mandibulated Neuroptera and the suctorial Lepido- 

 ptera. The structure of the parts of the mouth, as appear- 

 ing to indicate the essential habits, might be regarded as of 

 primary importance in determining the classification of the 

 insects ; but it is essential to bear in mind the following cir- 

 cumstances, which may have the effect of proving that too 



