244 FOOD OF INSECTS. 



cipitated headlong into the jaws of the concealed devourer. Sometimes, 

 however, it chances that the ant is able to stop itself midway, and with all 

 haste scrambles up again. No sooner does the ant-lion perceive this (for, 

 being furnished with six eyes on each side of his head, he is sufficiently 

 sharp-sighted), than, shaking off his inactivity, he hastily shovels loads of 

 sand upon his head, and vigorously throws them up in quick succession 

 upon the escaping insect, which, attacked by such a heavy shower from 

 below, and treading on so unstable a path, is almost inevitably carried to 

 the bottom. The instant his victim is fairly within reach, the ant-lion 

 seizes him between his jaws, which are admirable instruments, at the same 

 time hooked for holding, and grooved on the inner side, so as to form 

 with the adjoining maxillae, which move up and down in the groove, a 

 tube for sucking, and at his leisure extracting all the juices of the body, 

 regales upon formic acid. The dry carcass he subsequently jerks out of 

 his den, that it may not encumber him in his future contests, or betray the 

 "horrid secrets of his prison-house:" and if the sides of the pit have re- 

 ceived any damage, he leaves his concealment for awhile to repair it; which 

 having done, he resumes his station. 



In this manner in its larva state this insect lives nearly two years, 

 during all which time it receives no food but what has been caught through 

 the artifice above described. Though all living insects, for I have fed it 

 with flies, are equally acceptable to it, as the winged tribe can easily take 

 flight from its pit should they chance to fall into it, its prey consists chiefly 

 of apterous species, of which ants form by far the largest portion, with 

 occasionally an unwary spider or wood-louse. When the full period of its 

 growth is attained, it retires under the sand ; spins with its anus a silken co- 

 coon ; remains a chrysalis a few weeks ; and then breaks forth a four-winged 

 insect, resembling, as before observed, the dragon-fly both in appearance 

 and manners, and preying, in like manner, on moths, butterflies, and other 

 insects. 1 



The larva of Myrmeleon Formicaleo is not the only insect which avails 

 itself of a trap for obtaining its prey. A plan in most respects similar is 

 adopted by that of a fly (Leptis Vermileo), in form somewhat resembling 

 the common flesh maggot. This also digs a funnel-shaped cavity in loose 

 earth or sand, but deeper in proportion to its width than that of M. For- 

 micaleo, and excavated not by regular circles, but by throwing out the 

 earth obliquely on all sides. When its trap is finished, it stretches itself 

 near the bottom, remaining stiff and without motion like a piece of wood, 

 and the last segment bent at an angle with the rest, so as to form a strong 

 point of support in the struggles which it often necessarily has with 

 vigorous prey. The moment an insect falls into the pitfall, the larva 

 writhes itself round it like a serpent, transfixes it with its mandibles, and 

 sucks its juices at its ease. If the insect escapes, the larva casts above it 

 jets of sand with surprising rapidity. 2 



I am, c. 



1 Reaum. vi. 333378. Bonnet, ii. 380. 

 8 Bonnet, is. 414. De Geer, vi. 168. 1. 10. 



