THE PREDACEOUS INSECTS 



171 



DRAGON-FLY 



a long abdomen that serves admirably as an aerial rudder, 

 and with strong front legs and great jaws fitted for grasp- 

 ing and biting their victims, they may in- 

 deed appear as formidable dragons to less 

 fortunate insects. In their earlier stages 

 these insects develop in the water, where 

 they are also predaceous. 



The Dragon Flies are commonly di- 

 vided into two groups : those in which the 

 wings are held vertically when the insect 

 is at rest are called Damsel Flies ; those 

 in which the wings are held horizontally 

 when the insect is at rest are called 

 Dragon Flies. 



Among the many parasitic and predaceous insects to be 

 found amid colonies of plant lice, the Aphis Lions are per- 

 haps the most remarkable. These are 

 long-legged, slender-bodied creatures 

 with strange long jaws between which 

 they grasp their prey while they suck 

 the body dry. They are the larvae of the 

 Golden-eyed Lace-winged Flies (Chryso- 

 pidas). 



The curious Mantids of the order Or- 

 thoptera are also remarkable predaceous 

 insects. They are closely related to the 

 walking sticks and lie in wait till vari- 

 ous insects come within reach of their 

 grasping front legs. The native Praying 

 Mantis is not uncommon in the South- 

 ern states, while another species from 

 Europe has lately been introduced into New York state. 

 There are, of course, many predaceous creatures among 



EGG MASS OF 

 MANTIS 



