572 



IN SECT A- ORDERS NEUROPTERA, ETC. 



large nests, or forming galleries in wood, which they eat away from the 

 inside. 



Some of the remaining families of Neuroptera contain very small species. 

 Among the Psocidce, some are winged, and others are apterous. The species 

 most often seen is Atropos pulsatoria, a small white apterous 

 Family Psocidce. insect, which is frequently met with in neglected collections 

 of insects, and is often called a mite. It is active, and 

 sufficiently large to be seen running about. It has been stated on good au- 

 thority to produce a ticking sound, but this appears 

 almost impossible in the case of so small and soft a 

 creature. 



The Thripidce are very small insects, which are 



sometimes placed in a distinct order, under the name 



of Thysanoptera. They have rather 



Family long narro\v* wings, with very long 



Thripidce. fringes, and sometimes cause much fig. so.Thrips cerealium? 



injury to plants, especially in green- Magnified, 



houses, where the most troublesome species have re- 

 ceived the name of the "black fly." Tobacco smoke is recommended for 

 their destruction. The species figured, Thrips cerealium (Hal.), infests the 

 ears of wheat. 



ORDER TRICHOPTERA. 



The Trichoptera, or hairy-winged insects, include the Caddis Flies, which 

 were formerly placed with the Neuroptera, from which they differ in many 

 important particulars. The insects have four wings, similar 

 Caddis Flies in texture. The mouth parts are imperfectly developed, the 

 (Trichoptera). antennae and legs are long and slender, and the latter spined, 

 and the metamorphoses are complete, and aquatic. The Trich- 

 optera, especially some of the smaller species, have much resemblance to some 

 of thePyralidce, and Tineidce among the Lepidoptera, in shape, neuration, and in 



the structure of their legs and 

 antennae, but the wings are 

 clothed with hair instead of 

 scales. The pupse are necro- 

 morphous, as in the Coleoptera 

 and Hymenoptera. 



The Caddis Flies are very 

 dull-coloured insects, of small 

 or moderate size. They are 

 nearly always of a brown, grey 

 or buff colour, and very few, 

 even among the foreign species, 

 are varied with white, purplish, 

 oryellow. The largest British 

 species, Phrygane a grandis, 

 (Linn.) measures about an inch 

 and a half across the wings. 

 Some of the smaller species have very long antennas, several times as long as 

 the body. These insects are chiefly remarkable for the habits of the larvse. 



Fig. 51 CADDIS FLY (Phryganea grandis). Nat. size. 



