364 



FOOD OF INSECTS. 



time hooked for holding, and grooved on the inner side, so as 

 to form with the adjoining maxillse, which move up and down 

 in the groove, a tube for sucking," and at his leisure extracting 

 all the juices of the body, regales upon formic acid. The dry- 

 carcass he subsequently jerks out of his den, that it may not 

 encumber him in his future contests, or betray the " horrid 

 secrets of his prison-house : " and if the sides of the pit 

 have received any damage, he leaves his concealment for 

 awhile to repair it; which having done, he resumes his 

 station. 



In this manner in its larva state this insect lives nearly 

 two years, during all which time it receives no food but what 

 has been caught through the artifice above described. Though 

 all living insects, for I have fed it with flies, are equally ac- 

 ceptable to it, as the winged tribe can easily take flight from 

 its pit should they chance to fall into it, its prey consists 

 chiefly of apterous species, of which ants form by far the 

 largest portion, with occasionally an unwary spider or wood- 

 louse. When the full period of its growth is attained it 

 retires under the sand ; spins with its anus a silken cocoon ; 

 remains a chrysalis a few weeks ; and then breaks forth a 

 four-winged insect, resembling, as before observed, the dragon- 

 fly both in appearance and manners, and preying, in like 

 manner, on moths, butterflies, and other insects.^ 



The larva of Myrmeleon Formicaleo is not the only insect 

 which avails itself of a trap for obtaining its prey. A plan 

 in most respects similar is adopted by that of a fly {Leptis 

 Vermileo), in form somcAvhat resembling the common flesh 

 maggot. This also digs a funnel-shaped cavity in loose earth 

 or sand, but deeper in proportion to its width than that of 

 M. Formicaleo^ and excavated not by regular circles, but by 

 throwing out the earth obliquely on all sides. When its 

 trap is finished, it stretches itself near the bottom, remaining 

 stiff and without motion like a piece of wood, and the last 

 segment bent at an angle with the rest, so as to form a strong 

 point of support in the struggles which it often necessarily 



' Reaum, vi. 333—378. Bonnet, ii. 380. 



