NEUROPTERA 383 



a small, stout larva which goes by the name of an ant-lion. Even if 

 the creature had not burrowed down into the sand with its mandibles, 

 we should scarcely be able to distinguish it owing to its sandy colour 

 (protection). It is fully entitled to its peculiar name, being engaged 

 early and late in catching ants ; though any other small insect is equally 

 acceptable as food. How can so stout a creature, which, moreover, only 

 runs backwards, succeed in capturing a fleet-footed ant? It could cer- 

 tainly not do so by merely chasing it, but for this purpose makes use of 

 the funnel at the bottom of which we discovered it. Thus, if an ant 

 happens perchance to come to the edge of this trap, the loose sand glides 

 away under its feet and the insect slips down the slope with it. Forth- 

 with the robber, lurking in ambush, begins to bombard the falling victim 

 with sand, which, in rolling down, drags it deeper and deeper down into 

 the funnel. In this operation (as well as in building the funnel) the 

 larva employs its broad head, which has a trough-shaped depression 

 above, as a round shovel. In this manner the victim gets into the 

 " lion's jaws," i.e., between the powerful mandibles, which seize it, bore 

 it through, and suck it dry ; for its destroyer is devoid of a mouth (see 

 larva of the water beetle). 



For the purpose of entering the pupa stage, the larva buries itself deep 

 in the sand and spins a cocoon of web and sand, which it leaves a short 

 time afterwards as a light-winged ant-lion. The perfect insect bears a 

 strong resemblance to a dragon fly (which see), but is easily distinguished 

 from the latter by the club-shaped antennae and the brown-spotted 

 wings, which during rest slope downwards from the body. 



Allied Species. 



Upon leaves may frequently be seen white threads having a small 

 knob at their ends. These are stalked insect eggs. They give rise to 

 green larvae, which make great havoc among the plant lice. They are 

 on this account called aphis lions, and strongly resemble the larvae of the 

 lady-bird (which see). The perfect insect is the delicate Aphis Lion 

 (Chrysopa perla), which takes up its winter quarters in dwelling-rooms, 

 and is easily recognised by its delicate, gauze-like green wings and its 

 brilliant golden-coloured eyes (" golden-eye"). 



The Caddis Flies (Phryganeidce) are neuropterous insects with 

 finely scaled or hairy wings. Their aquatic larvae, or " caddis- worms," 

 are much better known than the perfect insects. Their abdomen being 

 very soft (compare with hermit crab), the larvae surround themselves 



