46 



Marvels of the Universe 



remarkable insects known, and 



has been a source of interest to 



entomologists for the past two 



centuries. It commences life from 



an egg deposited on the sand by 



the parent insect during her even- 

 ing flight. When the larva is 



hatched, it immediately begins to 



construct a little pit in the sand, 



at the bottom of which it hides. 



Later on, we are better able to 



understand the true nature of this 



hiding-place. 



The full-grown larva is a some- 

 what weird animal. It is about 



half an inch in length, with a 



body broadly oval in shape, and 



beneath it are six diminutive 



legs ill adapted for walking 

 purposes ; indeed, it can only shuffle along, and, strange to relate, its shuffle is always in a backward 

 direction. Its head is very conspicuous on account of its formidable jaws, or mandibles, these 

 organs serving to capture and hold its prey, also to suck its juices ; for it is devoid of a mouth, 

 properly speaking. It has six eyes on each side of its head. The prey that this curious grub 

 seeks is small active creatures, such as ants, spiders, centipedes, wood-lice, etc. ; it demands living 

 quarry, and lays out its plans accordingly for their capture. 



Taking all things into consideration, the grub has many natural disadvantages to contend with. 

 Ants, which constitute its chief prey, are extremely active, and, in open chase, the ant-hon's 

 success is hopeless. Then, the grim aspect of its huge mandibles does not inspire confidence even in 

 inquisitive ants, but the wily grub overcomes all its natural shortcomings. It is the larva 

 that is properly called "ant-lion"; for the insect in its winged state does not prey upon ants. 

 The methods adopted by the grub are very remarkable. Selecting a dry and sandy situation 

 beneath a tree, or sheltered by a wall, it proceeds to trace a boundary Hne to its proposed trap by 

 depressing the end of its abdomen into the sand and walking backwards in a circle. The circle 

 hiving been completed, with a diameter of from one to two inches, the larva then buries its 



Photo Ji/] 



THE ANT-LION. 



A photograph 



microscope, enlargin 



[H. Main, F.E.S. 

 UPPER SIDE. 



a!:en under the 

 the creature to 



about eight times the natural size. 



Photo fei/] IH. Main, F.E.S. 



THE ANT-LION. UNDER SIDE. 



The less are wealt and ineffective 

 or running purposes : but the Ant- 

 _ ion moRlly shufHes backwards. 



Photo hy] 



\_Hugh Main, F,E.S. 



THE WINGED CONDITION OF THE ANT-LION. 



when the Ant-Lion has passed its allotted time beneath the sand, and the intervening chrysalis stage, it emerges with 

 much the appearance of a dragon-fly, with long, slen-der body and expansive gauze-like wings. 



