HEMIPTERA. 47 



Thrips are another family of hemipterous insects which do much 

 damage, from their great numbers. Mr. Haliday has made a special 

 study of them, and has recorded his observations in the Entomological 

 Magazine. There would appear to be a large number of species, 

 as he has divided them into sixteen 

 genera. At my garden, ferns kept in 

 too warm an atmosphere specially 

 suffer from their ravages. Tobacco 



Fig. 1057. — Larva Thrips, magnified. 



Fig. 1058. — Winged Thrips, magnified. 



smoke appears to kill them, but a remedy is to place the plant out 

 of doors during the summer season. Fig. 1057 shows the larva 

 thrips, and fig. 1058 the thrips in the mature or winged state. 



NEUROPTERA. 



The Fifth order, Neuroptera, includes the Dragon-flies, Lace-wings, 

 and May-flies. These have jaws, four netted wings, and have no 

 sting. Most of the creatures comprised in this order are of service to 

 the gardener, and some are useful as providing food for our trout. 



We have but few of the larger Dragon-flies as compared, for 

 instance, with the number which inhabit Epping Forest. It is highly 

 interesting to watch them hawking for flies in the glades, and, when 

 tired, fixing themselves upon the top of a branch to repose for the 

 night. They are very voracious,and eat large quantities of flies. 



We have not a great number of the small green Dragon-flies ; never- 

 theless some are to be observed near the lake every year. 



Avery beautiful creature, called the Chrysopa perla (fig. 1059), with 

 green gauze wings and sparkling eyes, is very useful to the gardener 

 on account of the number of aphides it devours. The larva of this 

 creature (fig. 1060) is to be found on nejirly every infested leaf. 



