The Golaen-Eyed Lace-Winged Flies 



The young larva has an extremely large head, and the sides 

 of its body are armed with immense curved hairs, which give it 

 a very ferocious appearance. It crawls down the egg stalk until 

 it reaches the object upon which it is placed. On reaching a 

 young plant-louse it grasps it between its long curved jaws and 

 rolls it one way or the other, the juicy contents being rapidly ex- 

 tracted. It seems always hungry and always to be feeding when 

 it can find anything upon which to feed, and its rapidity of growth 

 is limited only by the abundance of the food supply. It will eat 



Fig. 120. — Chrysopa oculata: a, eggs; b, full-grown larva; c> foot of same; 

 d, same devouring a Psylla; <?, cocoon;/, adult insect; g, head of same; 

 h, adult, natural size — all enlarged except h. (After Marlatt.J 



one of its own brothers as quickly as any other insect, and when 

 nearly full grown its jaws are strong enough to pierce the skin of 

 a human being. In Toronto, Canada, I once felt a sharp prick on 

 the knuckle of one of my fingers, and on looking down found 

 one of these larvae with both jaws sticking through the skin and 

 pumping away with its body in an effort to get some nourish- 

 ment. I watched it for some time under a lens with some interest, 

 and am glad to state that it did not seem satisfied with its meal. 



223 



