572 



IN SECTA— ORDERS NEUROPTERA, ETC. 



large nests, or forming galleries in wood, whicli they eat away from the 

 inside. 



Some of the remaining families of Neuroptera contain very small species. 

 Among the Psocidce, some are winged, and others are apterous. The species 



most often seen is Atropos puhatoria, a small white apterous 

 Family Psocidce. insect, which is frequently met with in neglected collections 



of insects, and is often called a mite. It is active, and 

 sufficiently large to be seen running about. It has been stated on good au- 

 thority to produce a ticking sound, but this appears 

 almost impossible in the case of so small and soft a 

 creature. 



The Thripidm are very small insects, which are 

 sometimes placed in a distinct order, under the name 



of Thysanoptera. They have rather 

 Family long narrow wings, with very long 



Thripidm. fringes, and sometimes cause much jrig, ^,—Thripe cerealium. 



injury to plants, especially in green- Magnified, 



houses, where the most troublesome species have re- 

 ceived the name of the "black fly." Tobacco smoke is recommended for 

 their destruction, The species figured, Thrips cerealium (Hal.), infests the 

 ears of wheat. 



Order Trichoptera. 



The Trichoptera, or hairy-winged insects, include the Caddis FHes, which 



were formerly placed with the Neuroptera, from which they diflfer in many 



important particulars. The insects have four wings, similar 



Caddis Flies in texture. The mouth parts are imperfectly developed, the 



(Trichoptera). antennae and legs are long and slender, and the latter spined, 



and the metamorphoses are complete, and aquatic. TheTrich- 



optera, especially some of the smaller species, have much resemblance to some 



of the PyralidcE and Tineidce among the Lepidoptera, in shape, neuration, and in 



the structure of their legs and 

 antennfe, but the wings are 

 clothed with hair instead of 

 scales. The pupse are necro- 

 morphous, as in the Coleoptera 

 and Hymenoptera. 



The Caddis Flies are very 

 dull-coloured insects, of small 

 or moderate size. They are 

 nearly always of a brown, grey 

 or buff colour, and very few, 

 evenamongthe foreign species, 

 are variedwith white, purplish, 

 oryellow. The largest British 

 species, Phrygaiie a (jrandis, 

 (Linn.) measures about an inch 

 and a. half across the wings. 

 Sfinie of the smaller species have very lung antennae, several times as long as 

 the body. These insects are chiefly remarkable for the habits oi the larviie. 



Fig. 61 — Caddis Fly (Phrycjanm grandis). Nat. size. 



