22 MIOCENE FAUNA. 



are preserved, resembles the common earwig (F. auricularia, 

 Linn.), which is as abundant in Madeira as in Switzerland; and 

 a third (F. minuta, Heer) comes nearest to the little earwig (F. 

 minor, Linn.) which in summer evenings is often seen flying in 

 the air. 



Some of the Physopoda live in great numbers in flowers, and 

 assist in their fertilization by transferring the pollen to the 

 stigma; whilst others collect in millions upon the leaves of 

 plants, and by sucking their juices destroy them. The latter, 

 although extremely small animals, are greatly dreaded by gar- 

 deners under the name of the "red spider." Delicate as is 

 their structure, two species of these little insects (Thrips cenin- 

 gensis and T. annosa, Heer, flg. 233) have been beautifully pre- 

 served at CEningen, proving that even at that time plants were 

 attacked by these little Physopoda. 



B. Neuroptera. 



Neuroptera are divided into two sections those with an in- 

 complete and those with a complete metamorphosis. The latter, 

 with a quiescent pupa- stage, constitute the Neuroptera in the 

 narrower sense of the word; the former, with pupae which 

 continue to run about arid feed, approach very closely to the 

 Orthoptera, and form the transition to that order. They include 

 the greater part of the fossil Neuroptera. The twenty-five 

 known species belonging to the Swiss Miocene fauna are sub- 

 divided among the families of the Termitidse, Libellulidse, and 

 Ephemeridse. 



Of the four white ants (Termites) two species (Termes specta- 

 bilis and T. insignis, Heer) represent peculiar extinct species, 

 exceeding in size even the white ant ( T. fatalis, Linn.), so much 

 dreaded in the torrid zone. Two others (Termes Hartungi, Heer, 

 fig. 230, and T. Buchii, Heer) represent a species (T. lucifugus, 

 Lat.) inhabiting the subtropical zone (as in Madeira) , but which 

 has also taken up its abode in the seaport towns of Southern 

 Europe. In Madeira Prof. Heer found large numbers of this 

 species in old fir- stumps, which the insects perforated in all 

 directions and thus made dwelling-places for themselves. 

 From these chambers run covered galleries, through which the 



