mandibles, and has a wing expanse of 100 mm. to 125 mm. Fe- 
males are similar in appearance except that the mandibles are 
smaller. The full-grown larvae, commonly known as a hellgram- 
mite, is also large and formidable in appearance. Hellgrammites 
are found under stones in stream beds, especially where the water 
runs swiitest. After about 214 years, they leave the water and 
construct cells in which to pupate under stones, logs, or other ob- 
jects on or near the bank of the streain, usually during early 
summer. The hellgrammites are highly prized as fish bait; other- 
wise, members of the family are of little or no economic impor- 
tance. 
FAMILY CHRYSOPIDAE 
GREEN LACEWINGS 
Members of the family Chrysopidae are all predaceous in both 
the adult and larval stages on the bodies of soft-bodied insects. 
They occur commonly in late summer and fall on the foliage of 
plants infested with these insects. Aphids and mealybugs appear 
to be preferred as hosts, but leafhoppers, thrips, mites, and cer- 
tain species of scale insects are also attacked. The adults are 
green or yellowish-green and have delicate, lacelike wings. Eggs 
are usually laid at the ends of gelatinous stalks, 3 to 4 mm. long, 
firmly attached to the surfaces of leaves. The larvae are elongate, 
yellow or gray mottled with brown, and taper toward each end. 
Some species have the odd habit of covering their bodies with 
packets of trash woven together loosely with strands of silk. The 
winter is spent usually as full-grown larvae in silken cocoons in 
bark crevices or in such protected places as piles of leaves on the 
ground. There are one to several generations per year, depending 
on climate (661). The golden-eye lacewing, Chrysopa oculata Say, 
is an important predator of spruce gall aphids in the Lake States. 
FAMILY HEMEROBITDAE 
BROWN LACEWINGS 
Brown lacewing adults have brown or dark-colored bodies often 
marked with yellow. Occasionally, the abdomen is pale yellow. 
Otherwise, they resemble adult green lacewings very closely. All 
species are predaceous on other insects, principally aphids, but 
also chermids, mealybugs, white-flies, mites, and occasionally dia- 
spine scales. The larvae are similar in general appearance to the 
larvae of green lacewings, but they do not carry packets of trash 
on the dorsum. Eggs are laid on the surface of leaves, and the 
winter is spent in either the larval, pupal, or adult stages, depend- 
ing on species. The number of generations per year varies from 
one to many, depending on species and climate. 
FAMILY MYRMELEONTIDAE 
ANT LIONS 
Ant lion larvae, or doodle-bugs, as they are also commonly 
called, live in tiny, conical pits or craters in the ground, in dry, 
dusty, or sandy areas. The pits are usually about 1!% to 2 inches 
43 
