BULLETIN 39, XTNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



[58] 



mature in late summer and fall and should be collected at this season. 

 The Forficulidse or Earwigs are very odd-looking insects, resembling 

 somewhat the Eove-beetles {StapMlinidw), and are provided with a 

 prominent anal forceps. They are very rare in the United States, are 

 nocturnal in habit ; and, flying about at dusk, may be attracted to light 

 or may be secured by sweeping after nightfall. They feed on flowers 

 and fruit. 



COLLECTING NEUROPTBEA. 



As indicated in the preliminary outline of classification, this large 

 order has been divided into many orders by later entomologists. It has 

 also been divided, as indicated, into two grand divisions, the Pseudo- 

 neuroptera, comprising those insects with incomplete transformations, 

 and the Neuroptera proper, comprising those insects whose metamor- 

 phoses are complete. It will be convenient to discuss these 

 ^^x AT insects under these two heads. 



Pseudoneuroptera. — Spring-tails, Bird-lice, Stone-flies, 

 White-ants, Dragon-flies, May-flies. 



The Sj)ring-tails, Fish-moths, etc., representing the 

 primitive stock from which the higher forms have de- 

 veloped, have a varied habit and hence are to be found 

 in divers situations. The Spring- tails [GoUemhola, etc.), 

 occur in damp and moist places, usually in immense num- 

 bers. The Fish-moths and Book-mites 

 are common household pests, but also 

 occur outdoors under logs, boards, 

 bricks, and rubbish of all sorts. In 

 houses they feed on the starch paste be- 

 neath wall-paper and also on the starch in bookbind- 

 ings and other domestic articles. They may be col- 

 lected at all seasons and a sieve is the only implement 

 necessary. 



The Bird-lice or Mallophaga may be collected at all 

 seasons on birds and mammals. A number of species 

 infest domestic animals, horses, cattle, etc., but the 

 majority of them can be found only by the examination of domestic 

 fowls and wild birds. The Stone-flies {Perlidce) are found in the neigh- 

 borhood of water courses and ponds, are very sluggish in flight, and 

 easily captured with the sweep-net. They are also attracted to light. 

 The Psocidte are a small family of certain degraded wingless forms, 

 comprising the Book-lice, which, as the name implies, infest books, feed- 

 ing on the starch of the binding. Others have ample wings and closely 

 resemble large Aphides. They occur on the trunks of trees and on 

 foliage, and feed on lichens and other dried vegetable matter. They 

 are gregarious in habit and frequently occur in immense numbers 

 together. In the case of the Termitidse or White-ants, their abundance 



J'IG. 83. A Spring- 

 tail {Degeeria 

 lanuginosa) . 



Fig. 84.— a Mallopli- 

 agan (Trichodectes 

 latus). (After 

 Denny. ^ 



