A LIST OF THE NEUROPTERA INHABITING THE 

 ISLAND OF GUERNSEY. 



BY MR. W. A. LUFF. 



The Neuroptera or nerve-winged insects comprise several 

 families differing very considerably from each other in 

 structure and habit. 



They include the Dragon-flies, Lace-winged flies, Caddis- 

 flies, Ant Lions and the Termites or White Ants. 



Of the two last-named we have no representative in 

 Guernsey or in England. 



The Dragon-flies are perhaps the best known, from their 

 large size, richness of colouring, and the rapidity of their 

 flight, 



The larger species are popularly called Horse-stingers, 

 although they have no sting, and are quite harmless to cattle. 

 They have four very beautiful wings, remarkable for the 

 number of reticulations or network spaces, with which they 

 are covered. 



The members of the family Calopterydse have more than 

 1,500 of these spaces on each wing. The body is usually 

 long and slender, and often adorned with metallic colours. 

 The two large compound eyes occupy almost the whole 

 surface of the head, and are most beautiful objects when 

 viewed under the microscope. As many as 10,000 facets or 

 lenses have been counted in each of the eyes of one species of 

 Dragon-fly. 



The earlier stages of Dragon-flies are passed in the 

 water of stagnant ponds and ditches. The larvae are extremely 

 voracious, killing and eating any insect that they meet with in 

 the water. To enable them to capture their prey they have a 

 very curious modification of the mouth, consisting of an 

 elongation of the lower lip or labium. This apparatus is 

 hinged and folded up under the head, and has a pair of jaws 

 or pincers attached to the end. They swim slowly within 



