XVIII. The Chautauqua Insects and Their 

 Allies 



The Chautauqua region, with its diversity of lake and 

 stream, woodland and swamp, field and ravine, has an un- 

 usual variety and abundance of insect life. Its geographic 

 location, moreover, is such that a number of life-zones overlap 

 at this place, giving to the district the fauna and flora of 

 several regions. The following synopsis will point out the 

 chief groups of the insects and their allies, with some notes 

 as to their prominent characteristics. An itemized list would 

 run into the thousands of names, for the species of insects are 

 vastly more numerous than those of any other animal group. 



I. THE CRUSTACEANS 



The Crawfish, or Crayfish, plentiful in the streams, ponds, and lake, 

 is a familiar example of this group. There are very many minute and 

 microscopic Crustacea abundant in quiet and stagnant waters. Daphnia, 

 Cypris, and Cyclops are common examples of these. They are eco- 

 nomically important as food for fishes and higher aquatic animals. The 

 Sow-Bugs, or Pill-Bugs, that are plentiful under damp boards, stones, 

 and logs, are excellent examples of the crustacean type. Crabs and 

 lobsters are marine crustaceans. 



II. THE SPIDERS 



In the body of the spider the head and thorax are grown together, 

 forming one piece ; there are four pairs of legs, whereas true insects 

 have but three pairs. Abundant Chautauqua representatives of this 

 interesting and harmless group are: 



1. The Daddy-Long-Legs or Harvestmen; perfectly harmless; web- 



less species, feeding on plant lice and other small insects. 



2. The Clubionid Spiders; living in flat tubular nests, in rolled-up 



leaves. 



3. The Drassid Spiders; dark-colored; nocturnal; webless; hiding 



under leaves and stones. 



4. The Funnel-Web Weavers; exceedingly abundant in grassy fields; 



brown, long-legged spiders. 



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