78 



INSECT LIFE. 



applied to a much larger group of insects than now, 

 a group which has since been divided into many 

 orders. So that now, while the name expresses a 

 character which is true of the order, it is also true of 

 m^ny others.* 



One of the more conspicuous members of the 

 order is Polystcschotes punctatus (Pol-ys-tcech! o-tes punc- 



ta'tus), which is repre- 

 sented by Fig. 64. To this 

 order also belong Corydalis 

 (see page 153) and the 

 Fig. (i^—Poiystcechotes functatus. Aphis-lions (see page 1 78). 



Order Mecoptera (Me-cop'te-ra). 

 The Scorpion-flies and Others. 



The members of this order have four wings ; these 

 are membranous and furnished with numerous veins. 

 The head is prolonged into a beak, at the end of which 

 biting mouth-parts are situated. The metamorphosis is 

 complete. 



This is a small order composed of very remark- 

 able insects. The most striking character common 

 to all is the shape of the head, which is 

 prolonged into a beak with jaws at the 

 end (Fig. 65). The name Mecoptera is 

 from two Greek words : mecos, length, 

 and pteron, a wing. 



The members of the genus Panorpa Fig. 65.— Head 

 {Pa-nor'pa) (Fig. 66) are called scorpion- o^as°"P'°"- 



* The Neuroptera of the older entomologists included the following 

 orders : Thysanura, Ephemerida, Odonata, Plecoptera, Isoptera, Corro- 

 dentia, Mallophaga, Neuroptera, Mecoptera, and Trichoptera. 



