INSECTA. 



135 



the tarsi ; anterior legs much longer than the others ; mouth 

 very small ; mandibles hardly distinguishable. They derive 

 their name from the brevity of their existence in the perfect 

 state, never surviving the day of their birth. There are some 

 of them, even, who are metamorphosed, lay eggs, and expire 

 the same evening. The larvae are elongated and soft ; they 

 live many years, previous to the metamorphosis, in holes 

 with two issues, which they excavate in the banks of running 

 waters. 



FAMILY OF THE PLANIPENNES. 



Antennae with many joints, considerably longer than the 

 head ; mandibles very distinct ; wings four, and alike. Two 

 remarkable genera. 



Genus I. Myrmeleon, Lin. Lion-Ant. 



Wings equal and tectiform; abdomen long and cylindrical, 

 with two projecting appendages in the males ; antennae short, 

 with hooks, and enlarged towards the extremity ; the larva 

 generally moves backwards ; it digs in the sand a cavity in 

 the form of a funnel, at the bottom of which it places itself 

 with its two horns wide apart, and wo to the Ant or other 

 small Insect that passes by the edge of this hole ! the sand 

 caves in, and it falls into the ambuscade ; the Lion-Ant sucks 

 its blood by the aid of its horns, which are also suckers, and 

 then throws its body to a great distance, so that it may not 

 serve as a warning to other Insects for whom it is lying in 

 wait. If the prey is vigorous and resists, at the moment when 

 the walls of the funnel are caving, the Lion-Ant, with its 

 head, throws down upon it a shower of sand. The larva is 

 not transformed for two years. 



Genus II. Termes, Lin. 



Tarsi with four articulations ; wrings folding horizontally 

 upon the body, very long, slightly transparent, coloured, and 

 with very fine nervures ; abdomen terminated by two little 

 points; antennae setaceous; the larvae live in society, and 

 construct enormous nests of from ten to fifteen feet high, and 

 sometimes capable of holding a dozen men ; individuals called 

 neuters, distinguished by their enormous head and strong 



