Olasfi 3. Insecta. Order 3. Neuroptera. 



261 



metamorphosis ; if it is enclosed in a cocoon, it bites its way out for 

 this purpose. The following may be taken as examples : 



1. Ant-lions (Myrmeleon). Fore and hind, wings lai-ge and similar, almost 

 of equal size, with, a delicate close veining ; the antennae, fairly short and thick, 

 somewhat club-shaped ; the mouth-parts weU developed. In their habits very 

 like the Libellulidse. The lai-vse to which the name of " Ant-lions " was originally 



Fig- 218. 



Fig. 219. 



c A eh 



Fig. 217. Chrysopa. a Imago, b larva, c — d pupa, e — /pupa cases (/ opened), g eggs, 

 h egg enlarged. — After Tasohenberg. 



Fig. 218. Panorpa communis, $ . 



Fig. 219. Boreus hiemalis, y. 



given, have large slender mandibles, which are hoUowed out ventrally ; into these 

 grooves, the elongate first maxillee fit, so that each mandible, with its maxUla, 

 forms a hook perforated by 3,. canal; the canal leads into the mouth, which is 

 closed but for this. The larva sits in a funnel-like pit in the sand, and catches 

 passing Insects which fall in by accident, or in consequence of a shower of sand 

 which it throws over them with its head. The prey is devoxu-ed with the 

 help of the hooks abeady mentioned. Closely allied to the Ant-lions, is the 

 Golden-eye (Chrysopa), a small delicate gi-eenish insect, with lai-ge wings. 

 It resembles the Ant-lions in the main points of its structm-e, but differs, among 

 other things, in its long, bristle-like antennaa. The greenish larva, " Aphis-lion," 

 is also similar to larval Ant-lions, but it moves freely about on trees and eats 

 Aphides. The eggs are attached by long stalks to leaves. Some species are very 

 common in Great Bi-itain. 



