NEUROPTEKA. 145 



struct tubes or covered ways, wherein they go, so that they 



FlG. 103 MALK XKBM1TE. 



always work concealed from observa- 

 tion. Sometimes they raise edifices 

 above the ground in the shape of 

 pyramids or towers, occasionally sur- 

 mounted by a solid roof: these habita- 

 tions, both from their dimensions and 

 their numbers, might easily be mis- 

 taken for villages. Besides the labour- 

 ers, each community contains a number 

 of individuals called neuters, or soldiers, 

 to whom the defence of the colony is 

 intrusted ; these are at once distinguish- 

 able from the large size of their heads 

 and ponderous jaws. Besides the 

 above, there are winged males, and a 

 queen or fertile female, whose fecun- 

 dity surpasses anything elsewhere 

 known in the animal creation. Arrived 

 at their perfect state they all become 

 possessed of wings, and issuing forth, 

 in countless multitudes by night, cover 

 the country as with a living deluge. 

 The rising sun, however, dries their 

 wings, and they become a prey to 

 numerous enemies, to whom they serve 

 as food. 



The Caddis Flies (Phryganea)* 

 which, like the May-flies, are among 

 the best friends of the fly-fisher, are 

 usually placed among the Neuropte- 

 rous insects, although the nervures 



n ,1 -IT T 



ot their wings can scarcely be said 



FlG. 104. QUEEN TERMITE 



SIZE) 



vov, phryganon, a dry stick. 



H 



