THE WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
154 
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OBSERVATIONS. 
Neuroptera. 
The Lacewing Fly. — ( Chrysopa 
reticulata.) — I have just now been 
interested in the manner in which 
the Lacewing Ply enters on its 
winged life. I have pleasure in 
sending you a few notes that may 
not be uninteresting to your readers. 
The eggs of the Lacewing Ply are 
deposited, as is generally known, on 
such plants as are infested with 
aphides. They are placed, for the 
sake of security, on gummy pedicals 
often an inch high, and so smooth 
and slender as perfectly to protect 
them from attacks of creeping pre- 
dacious insects. In due time the 
egg is hatched, and the larva begins 
its work of destruction among the 
plant-lice. It does not differ very 
materially in structure from other 
neuropterous larvae; it is, for many 
weeks, a very tyrant among the 
aphides, and when it is fed to the 
full, it creeps to some place of safety, 
to undergo its coming change, affix- 
•na: itself to some twig or blade of 
grass, and gradually assuming the 
semblance of a more perfect state 
of existence. I have this morning 
seen one put off its pupa-clothes. 
Its exit reminded me strongly of 
that of the dragon fly. There was 
a cracking above the eyes, and the 
bright lustrous eyes appeared ; next, 
the thorax was evolved ; but lest 
the helpless creature should over- 
balance itself, and thus interfere 
with the delicate evolution of the 
legs and antennae from their prettily 
ringed sheaths, nature has provided 
it with extremely elastic belts, 
which serve as suspensary bands to 
support it whilst disengaging itself. 
It then seemed exhausted with its 
efforts, and rested to allow the parts 
already evolved to dry. This done, 
and the legs having assumed firm- 
ness, it clung to the stem, and 
gradually drew forth the body, 
arching itself so as not to touch 
the wings, which were limp and 
tenderly pliable. The wings slowly 
and gradually assumed their full 
dimensions, becoming - more and 
more guaze-like as they were de- 
veloped, the body became longer, 
and in the course of an hour or so, 
the Lacewing Ply attained its perfect 
beauty. — Peter Inchbald, Storthes 
Hall, near Huddersfield. 
CAPTURES. 
COLEOPTERA. 
Captures near Monmouth. 
Continued from 'page 150. 
Pterostichus cupreus. 
P. versicolor. Some very brilliant. 
