414 1NSECTA. 



5. The PRRLIDES, in which the tarsi are triarticulated, and the mandibles 

 almost always partly membranous and small. The inferior wings are wider 

 than the others, and doubled at their inner margin. 



They comprise the genus 



PKKI.A, Geoffroy. 



Their body is elongated, narrow, and flattened ; the head is tolerably large, 

 the antennae are setaceous, and the maxillary palpi very salient. The first 

 segment of their trunk is nearly square, and the wings are crossed and laid 

 horizontally on the body ; the abdomen terminates as usual by two articu- 

 lated setae. 



Their larva are aquatic and inhabit sheaths or cases, which they construct 

 in the manner of those formed by the insects of the ensuing family, and in 

 which they pass into the state of nymphs. 



FAMILY III. 



PLICIPENNES*. 



IN this family the mandibles are wanting, and the inferior wings are 

 usually wider than the others, and plaited longitudinally. It is formed of 

 the genus 



PHRYGANEA, Linnaeus, Fabricius. 



These Neuroptera, at a first glance, have the appearance of little Phalsenae, 

 and hence the name of Mouches papillonacees or papilionaceous flies, bestowed 

 upon them by Reaumur. The body is most frequently bristled with hairs, 

 and, with the wings, forms an elongated triangle, like several of the Noctua> 

 and Pyrales. The first segment of the thorax is small. The wings are simply 

 veined, usually coloured, or almost opaque, silky or pilose in several, and 

 always strongly tectiform. The legs are elongated, are furnished with small 

 spines, and have five joints in all the tarsi. 



These insects chiefly fly at night or during the evening, diffuse a disagree- 

 able odour, frequently penetrate into houses, where they are attracted by the 

 light, and are extremely quick and agile in all their motions. The smaller 

 species flit about in flocks over ponds and rivers. 



Their larvae, always, like the Tinea, inhabit tubes that are usually cylin- 

 drical, covered with various substances which they find in the water, such as 

 blades of grass, bits of reeds, leaves, roots, seeds, grains of sand, and even 

 little shells, and frequently arranged symmetrically. They connect these 

 various bodies with silken threads, the source of which is contained in internal 



Folded-wings. 



