i8o 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



Family ChryS0PID/£ (Chry-sop'i-dae). 



The Lace-winged-flies or Aphis-lions. 



If one will search the foliage of herbs, shrubs, or trees, 

 there may be found, running rapidly around on the leaves, 

 sturdy, spindle-formed, little insects that have great sickle- 

 shaped jaws (Fig. 219). These larvae are always hungry, 

 and will kill and eat any insects that they can overpower; 



Fig. 219. — Eggs, larva, cocoon, and adult of Chrysopa. 



but as they are especially destructive to plant-lice, they are 

 called Aphis-lions. 



When an Aphis-lion is full grown it rolls itself up into a 

 tiny ball and weaves around itself a glistening, white 

 cocoon, which looks like a large seed-pearl. It may be 

 supposed that while the Aphis-lion is secluded in this pearly 

 cell it repents its greedy, murderous ways, and changes in 

 spirit ; at least the body changes greatly, for, after a time, a 

 circular lid is made in the cocoon, and out of this emerges 

 a beautiful, dainty creature, with delicate-veined, green 

 wings, a pale green body, slender, brown antennae, and 

 a pair of large eyes that shine like melted gold. It is 



