GARDEN INSECTS. 



185 



place of safety should clanger threaten, and of " brooding " them. 

 Earwigs are remarkable, too, on account of their possessing 

 forceps at the hinder extremity of the body. These vary con- 

 siderably in the case of the male, though they are never straight ; 

 but they are very constant in the case of the female, being 

 always straight, with hooked tips. The exact purpose of these 

 forceps is not known. In some species (winged) they assist in 

 replacing the exquisitely folded wings ; but in others (wingless 

 kinds) they may be useful as weapons of defence. Few people 

 seem to credit the common earwig with the possession of the 

 wings, which are neatly folded under the tegmina, and which are 

 seldom used in flight except perhaps in the autumn ; nor would 

 many recognise the smaller Labia minor when on the wing. 



The Xcuroptcra constitute an order of insects which, as far 

 as Britain is concerned, contains not a single individual which is 

 hurtful in gardens ; while at the same time it includes some of 

 the greatest friends the gardener has in the genera Chrysopa 

 and Hcmcrobius. Nor must the much-dreaded Dragonflies be 

 lost sight of, for they are decidedly beneficial insects. Though 

 chiefly found in those gardens where there are ornamental 

 waters, yet they will hawk for their prey some distance from the 

 stream which gave them birth. Of the Cliryopidcs (Lacewing- 

 Flies, Golden Eyes, or Stink-Flies), there are some fifteen species 

 in this country; but only two or three are at all common in gardens. 

 These are, however, so eminently useful that not one gardener 

 or farmer who values his crops can afford to ignore their great 

 services. Delicate though they look, they are voracious to a 

 degree, and destroy as perfect insects and larvae myriads of 

 aphides. They are readily distinguished by their conspicuous 

 golden eyes, long slender antenna? and gauzy wings — some 

 beautiful shade of green — the beautiful colours, however, which 

 one sees soon fade when the insect is dead, as is the case with 

 dragonflies. Once seen they can hardly be confused with any- 

 thing else. Lacewing-Flies often find their way into houses, and 

 windows afford them special attraction, while they may be found 

 in abundance upon palings. The eggs are extremely curious, 

 and should always be protected ; they are fairly conspicuous, 

 being laid singly at the end of long stalks, but several in a group. 

 The larva? are not unlike those of ladybirds. Some of them 

 clothe themselves with the skins of their victims after the manner 



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