450 SYNOPTIC COLLECTION. 



so far known to us, are caterpillar-like in the young as 

 well as in the mature larval stage, though some species 

 may yet be found that passes through a transient Thysan- 

 uriform stage. This is the more probable, since the 

 Mecoptera have biting mouth parts and in this way are 

 more generalized than the Lepidoptera, a group which 

 we shall see has the Thysanuriform stage represented in 

 the life history of one of its generalized members (see p. 

 461). 



The larva of Panorpa (fig. i) is not only provided with 

 thoracic legs ,but it has also eight pairs of jointed prop- 

 legs on the abdomen, and an organ called the anal fork 

 at its end (see fig. i). The prop-legs seem to be of little 

 use, 1 but locomotion is accomplished by the thoracic legs 

 and anal fork, the latter being capable of supporting the 

 body. Besides the prop-legs, the young larva has spines 

 which disappear in the mature larva, excepting those on 

 the eighth, ninth, and tenth segments. Like caterpillars, 

 Panorpa has a pair of spiracles in the prothorax, but none 

 in the mesothorax or metathorax, while there is a pair in 

 each of the first eight abdominal segments. 



The larva burrows in the ground and there becomes a 

 pupa. The head of the adult (No. 1144, <, 9 ; PL 1143, 

 fig. 2) is extended into a beak, at the end of which are the 

 mouth parts. According to Felt, 2 feeding is a combina- 

 tion of biting and sucking, and only wounded or dead 

 animals were eaten by the species under observation. 



The long abdomen of the male is provided with a pair 

 of forceps-like claspers and is bent over the back, giving 

 the insect somewhat the appearance of a scorpion, 

 although the two animals are very different. 



Another member of the Mecoptera is Bittacus tipularius 

 which is a slender insect with remarkably long legs, but 

 without the forceps-like abdominal appendages of Panorpa. 







1 Felt, loth Rep. N. Y. State Ent., 1895. 



2 Loc. tit., p. 466. 



