424 THE INSECT WOKLD. 



They hide themselves in the earth at the foot of trees, and the 

 adult issues forth at the end of a fortnight, leaving its pupa skin 

 behind. It lives but a few days. The female lays her eggs on 

 reeds, stones, &c. Fig. 399 represents the Mud Semblis in its 

 three states. 



We now come to those Neuroptera which undergo complete meta- 

 morphoses. They are the Myrmeleonidae, of which the Ant-lion 

 (Myrmeleo) is the most prominent type, and the Phryganidce, or 

 Caddis-flies. 



The larvae of the Ant-lions live on the land, and are carnivorous. 

 "When about to undergo their transformation into pupae, they spin 

 for themselves a silky cocoon. The larvae of the Phryganeas, on 

 the contrary, live in the water. They surround themselves 



Fig. 400. Ant-lion (Myrnteleo formicarius). 



with a sort of protecting case, composed of a silky shell and 

 incrustations of all sorts. The pupae, as well as the larvae of these 

 insects breathe by means of gills. 



The Ant-lion (Myrmeleo formicarius, Fig. 400) is found in the 

 environs of Paris. It is an elegant insect, resembling the dragon- 

 fly ; and is distinguished from it by its antennae. Its larva is of 

 a rosy, rather dirty grey, with little tufts of blackish hair on its 

 very voluminous abdomen. Its legs are rather long and slender ; 

 the front legs are separated forwards, whilst the hind legs are 

 fixed against the body ; and only permit the animal to walk back- 

 wards. These larvae are met with in great abundance in sandy 

 places very much exposed to the heat of the sun. There they con- 

 struct for themselves a sort of funnel in the sand (Fig. 401), by 



