216 MANUAL OF NATUKAL HISTOKF. 



antennae of moderate length, moniliform ; 

 body long, linear, depressed; wings four, 

 similar, long, narrow, membranous, very little 

 veined, fringed with silky hairs, laid along 

 the back when at rest ; tarsi 2-jointed, vesi- 

 cular at the tip. 



ROOF-WINGED INSECTS. 



These insects, in their larval and pupa state, are 

 met with in various situations ; some search the 

 stems of plants for Aphides, some lurk beneath the 

 bark of trees, others are found in moist earth. The 

 Ant-Lions attract attention from the singular form 

 and habits of their larvae, which dig pitfalls in the 

 sand, at the bottom of which they lie in wait until 

 some unfortunate insect falls in, when they imme- 

 diately seize their victim with the long forceps-like 

 mandibles with which they are provided, or, fail- 

 ing in this, and their prey attempts to escape, cast 

 after it a shower of sand, which probably causes 

 it to fall again within their reach ; their form 

 contrasts strangely with that of the imago, being 

 somewhat spider-like, the body thick and fleshy, 

 and beset with bundles of stiff hairs, and by no 

 means pleasing, while the perfect insect is of grace- 

 ful figure, with a long slender body and beautiful 

 reticulated wings. 



The Water-Moths and their larvae are well known 

 to the angler as bait, under the names of Caddice- 

 Flies and Caddice- Worms. These latter construct 



