1G4 KEPOET UPON COTTON INSECTS. 



APHIS LIONS (Xcur.j gen. Chrysopa). The aphis lions are the larvae of 

 the " golden-eyed lace-wing flies" insects with slender bodies and ex- 

 tremely delicate, gauze-like wings. 

 Their color is usually green and 

 their eyes golden (represented in all 

 stages by Figures 8 and 9). Upon 

 being disturbed, they emit a disa- 

 greeable, fetid odor. Their eggs are 

 FIG. 8.-Chrysopa perla. white and are supp orted by long 



foot-stalks, as shown in the figure, usually upon plants infested with 

 plant-lice. The larvae are active and extremely voracious. There are 



two or more broods in the course of the 

 summer, and the last brood winters in 

 the chrysalis state, protected by a com- 

 FIG. 9. Chrysopa oculata. pact, round, whitish cocoon. 

 These aphis lions are abundant upon the cotton plant throughout the 

 summer, and in the early part of the season do the planters much good 

 by destroying the cotton-aphides in large numbers. Later in the sea- 

 son, we have the authority of Dr. Phares for stating that they devour 

 the eggs and newly-hatched larvae of the cotton-moth. Mr. Trelease 

 makes the following mention of these insects : 



The larvae (aphis-lions) of the lace-winged flies are also very plentiful on cotton, 

 where they prey upon Aphides, and very likely they may also destroy eggs of Alctia. 



In his notes he says : 



Late in July numerous individuals of the larvae of lace-winged flics, or aphis-lions 

 have been found with their jaws over the glands on the under surface of the cotton 

 leaves, where they were probably feeding on nectar through their hollow mandibles, 

 though they may have been lying in wait for some insect. 



Mr. Trelease also states that it is an idea prevalent among many 

 planters that these lace- winged flies are always to be found where there 

 are larvae of Aletia. 



MOSQUITO-HAWKS, DRAGON-FLIES, or DEVIL'S DARNING-NEEDLES 

 (Neur.j Fam. Libellulidae). These insects, in the adult stage, are so well 

 known as not to warrant description. The eggs are laid in the w r ater, either 

 indiscriminately dropped or deposited around the stem of some aquatic 

 plant. The larvae are predacious, living upon other aquatic insects, and 

 are remarkable for two things : 1, the syringe-like apparatus into which 

 the posterior part of the alimentary canal is transformed, and by vio- 

 lently ejecting a stream from which the insect is propelled through the 

 water; and, 2, the arrangement of the jaws at the tip of a long spoon- 

 shaped projection of the lower lip, which can be folded under the head 

 out of sight while the insect approaches its unsuspecting prey. The 

 habits of the perfect insects are also predaceous. (We figure one of the 

 most common species, Lilellula trimaculata.) They catch and eat num- 

 bers of insects upon the wing. 



