156 THE NEUROPTERA OF GUERNSEY. 



striking distance of their unsuspecting prey, and suddenly 

 dart out this curious organ, almost invariably capturing the 

 insect and conveying it to the mouth. 



We have eleven species of Dragon-flies in Guernsey, the 

 largest being Anax formosus ; it is also one of the commonest, 

 and a very^ formidable creature it looks as it flies swiftly along 

 after its victims. 



The palm of beauty amongst our island insects must be 

 conceded to Galopteryx Virgo with its splendid metallic 

 coloured body and wings. Another handsome species is 

 Libelhda quadrimacidata, I have seen only one specimen, 

 which was captured in St. Peter-Port Harbour. It is one 

 of the migrating species (often observed on the Continent and 

 in America in prodigious swarms, sometimes taking many 

 hours to pass a given spot), and may be only a visitor to our 

 shores. 



The Lace-winged flies are extremely delicate and beautiful 

 insects ; some such as Ghrysopa are of a beautiful green colour, 

 with light gauzy wings and bright golden eyes; others, as the 

 Hemerobce, have iridescent wings, reflecting all the colours of 

 the rainbow. 



In the larva state the Lace-wing flies play a very 

 important part in feeding on and keeping in check the 

 numerous Aphides or plant lice, and should be known and 

 protected by every gardener. 



A very curious insect is Panorpa communis, two 

 specimens of which have been taken in Guernsey. It is 

 common enough in England where it is popularly known 

 as the Scorpion fly, from having an appendage to its body 

 very much resembling the sting of a scorpion. 



The May-flies or Epliemericlce proceed from larvse living 

 in water. They have a very short existence in the perfect 

 state, having no means of taking food, and being of so fragile 

 a nature. I have never observed our Guernsey species in any 

 numbers, but in England and on the Continent they sometimes 

 appear in immense swarms. 



The Psocidce are small insects living gregariously amongst 

 lichens on trunks of trees, old walls, &c. In July of this year 

 I noticed some thousands of specimens of a Psocus on a brick 

 wall about eight feet square in Mansell Street; they were 

 huddled up close together on the lines of mortar between the 

 bricks. The insect is Psocus quadrimacidatus, and is not 

 reckoned at all common. Mr. McLachlan records the 

 occurrence of the same species, in September, 1890, at 

 Dunster, in North Somerset, in great numbers on a stone wall. 



