THE PREDACEOUS INSECTS 173 



2. Examine a colony of plant lice careftilly. Try to find the white 

 eggs, the footless larvae, or the curious brown puparia of some of the 

 Syrphus Flies. Watch one of the larvas through a lens to see the way 

 it impales its victims. 



3. Read the account of the Robber Flies in The Insect Book, pages 

 141-143 ; of the Syrphus Fly in Stories of Insect Life, First Series, 

 pages 50-51. 



Ants and Wasps 



1 . Watch the surface of an ant's nest to see if any insects are carried 

 to it. 



2. Watch wasps and hornets as they .fly about porches and near 

 houses to see if they catch flies and other insects. 



3. Open the cells of a Mud Wasp's nest to see the paralyzed spiders 

 or caterpillars inside. 



4. Watch the places where Digger Wasps make their burrows to 

 see the insects at work. 



5. Read such of the following accounts of the life histories of wasps 

 as you have access to : — 



Tke Insect Book, pages 18-30. American Insects, pages 490-510. Nature Biog- 

 raphies, pages 102-106. Life Histories of American Insects, 147-178. Stories of 

 Insect Life, Second Series, pages 24-29, or the book by Professor and Mrs. Peck- 

 ham, entitled The Solitary Wasps. 



Other Predaceous Insects 



1 . Watch the Dragon Flies and Damsel Flies in summer. Notice 

 the position of the wings when the insects alight. 



2. Read the account of Dragon Flies in American Insects, pages 75- 

 89 ; also the accounts of the Praying Mantis in The Insect Book, pages 

 326-328 ; Stories of Insect Life, Second Series, pages 63-68. 



