430 THE INSECT WOELD. 



habits ; as, for instance, case-worms, from their living in a case 

 covered with little bits of wood or sand, which they draw after 

 them as they go. Their scientific name, Phryganea, signifies 

 fagot* The Phryganece, in the adult state, very much resemble 

 moths. They approach them in having rudimentary mouths, and 

 wings without articulations, but furnished with small hairs, analo- 

 gous to the scales of Lepidoptera. They may be said to form a 

 sort of connection between the Lepidoptera and Neuroptera. They 

 have been called Mouches papilionacees, or Papilionaceous flies. 

 The eggs laid by the female Phryganea are enclosed in gelatinous 

 capsules, which swell in the water and attach themselves to stones, 

 &c. The larva has the appearance of a little worm without feet. 

 It is soon hatched, and resembles at first a little black line, and 

 may be easily reared in an aquarium. The operation of making 

 the silky case which it draws after it, and which protects its abdo- 

 men, may then be observed. When it is disturbed, it retreats 

 entirely within its case. The interior is smooth, and lined with 

 mud ; on the exterior it is fortified with stones, &c. 



The Phryganea rkombica (Figs. 414, 415, 416) furnishes its 

 case with bits of wood or grass, arranged as shown in Fig. 417. 

 Some species arrange these bits of wood and grass in spiral, others 

 in parallel series. The Phryganea flamcornis covers its dwelling 

 with little shells. "These kinds of dress," says Reaumur, "are 

 very pretty, but they are also excessively singular. A savage 



who, instead of being covered with 

 furs, should be covered with musk rats, 

 moles, or other entire animals, would 

 have on an extraordinary costume ; 

 this is in some sort the case with our 

 larvae." Other Phryganece employ for 

 constructing the case which serves 

 them as a dwelling, sand and small 



Fig. 417. Regular cases of a Phryganea. , , -, , , 



pebbles ; each species always employ- 

 ing the same materials, unless they are entirely deprived of 

 these and obliged to employ others. These cases protect the 

 larvae against the voracity of their enemies. The larvae have a 

 scaly head ; and the three first rings of their body are harder than 



* From (bpvyaviov, a stick. ED 



