NEUROPTERA 195 



placing the Odonata (dragon-flies) near to any other insect 

 group, and the same may be said of the Ephemeridse (May- 

 flies). 



Out of the so-called Neuroptera of most elementary books, 

 which have no demonstrable affinity, it is better to separate 

 such as undergo complete transformation, and possess biting 

 mouth-parts, besides four similar membranous wings, which 

 are not folded when at rest. These may usefully bear the 

 restricted name, Neuroptera. The other families, such as the 

 dragon-flies and May-flies, are best treated as independent 

 until we are better informed as to their origin and history. 



The Neuroptera (in the stricter sense of the term) answer 

 more or less to the Planipennia (flat-winged Neuroptera) of 

 Latreille and some other authors. They include the Sialidae 

 (alder-flies and snake-flies), the Panorpidae (scorpion-flies), the 

 Myrmeleontidse (ant-lions) and their near allies, and the 

 Chrysopidae (lacewing-flies). 



Sialis lutaria (the alder-fly) is a common British insect, used 

 as a bait by anglers. 'The first stage is passed in water, 

 especially muddy water, where the predatory larva seeks and 

 devours other aquatic insects. It has formidable pointed 

 mandibles, three pairs of rather long legs, and seven five- 

 jointed abdominal appendages, which curve outwards into the 

 water and serve as gills. The larva quits the water to pupate 

 in earth, and shortly afterwards emerges as a sluggish fly, with 

 black body and four large wings, which are clear but black- 

 veined. The female lays patches of dark brown eggs on leaves, 

 sticks, or stones near the water's edge. 



Scorpion-flies take their name from the sting-like termination 

 of the abdomen of the male fly, which is curved over the back 

 as in real scorpions. The resemblance is purely superficial, 

 for the scorpion-fly does not sting, and the peculiar tail is only 

 used to grasp the female. The scorpion-fly possesses a more 

 formidable weapon in its long, down-pointing beak, which is a 

 prolongation of the head, and bears the minute mouth-parts at 

 its extremity ; with this it sucks the bodies of (usually) dead 

 insects. The flies are not uncommonly seen hovering over 

 bushes and herbs on summer days. The larvae live in moss or 

 damp earth, and possess abdominal pseudopods as well as 

 three pairs of thoracic legs, so that they resemble saw-fly larv». 



Of the other Neuroptera we can only glance at the lacewing- 



