NEUROPTERA. 41 1 



upon it such a torrent of sand by means of its head and mandibles, as propels 

 it stunned and defenceless to the bottom of the hole. Having exhausted its 

 juices by suction, it jerks away the carcass. 



When about to pass into the state of a chrysalis, it encloses itself in a per- 

 fectly round cocoon, formed of a silky substance of the colour of satin, which 

 it covers externally with grains of sand. 



There is a genus separated from it by Fabricius called Ascalaphu*. 



3. The HEMEROBINI of Latreille, which are similar to the Myrmeleonides 

 in the general form of their body and wings ; but their antenna; are filiform, 

 and they have but four palpi. 



They form the genus 



HEMEROBIUS, Linnceus, Fabricius. 



The body of the true Hemerobii is soft, and the globular eyes are frequently 

 ornamented with metallic colours ; the wings are large, and their exterior 

 border is widened. They fly slowly and heavily ; several diffuse a strong 

 odour, with which the finger that has touched them remains for a long 

 time impregnated. 



The female deposits ten or twelve eggs on leaves ; they are oval, white, and 

 secured by a very long and capillary pedicle. Some authors have mistaken 

 them for a species of mushroom. The larvae bear a considerable resemblance 

 to those of the preceding division ; they are, however, more elongated and 

 errant. Reaumur calls them Leans des Pucerons, because they feed on 

 Aphides. They seize them with their horn-like mandibles, and soon exhaust 

 them by suction. Some form a thick case for themselves of their remains, 

 which gives them a very singular appearance. The nymph is enclosed in a 

 silken cocoon of an extremely close tissue, the volume of which is very small 

 when compared with that of the insect. The fusi of the larvae are situated 

 at the posterior extremity of the abdomen, like those of the larvae of the 

 Myrmeleonides. 



H. perla, Lin. Green-yellow ; eyes golden ; wings transparent with 

 entirely green nervures. 



In others the first segment of the thorax is large, and the wings are laid 

 horizontally on the body ; the palpi are 'filiform, and the last joint is conical 

 or almost cylindrical, and frequently shorter than the preceding one. The 

 larvae are aquatic. They form the genus 



SEMBLIS, Fabricius, 



Which is composed of three subgenera, viz. Corydalis, Chauliodes, and Sialis. 



4. A fourth division, that of the TERMITIN.E, will comprise Neuroptera subject 

 to a semi-metamorphosis. They are all terrestrial, active, carnivorous, or 

 gnawers, in all their states. With the exception of the Mantispac, very distinct 

 from all the insects of this order, by the form of their anterior legs, which 

 resemble those of a Mantis ; the tarsi consist of four joints at most, which 

 removes them from the preceding genera of the same family. The mandibles 



