100 REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
Fig. 26. — Chrysopa-: a, eggs; b, larva ; c, cocoons; d 
fly, with left wings detached. (After Westwood.) 
Fig. 27 — .Chrysopa with eggs. (From 
regretted that this voracious insect is not more abundant in the cotton 
fields; but it undoubtedly de- 
stroys many worms. It is 
popularly known as "the rear 
horse," "the camel cricket," or 
"the devil's riding horse," and 
feeds upon all sorts of living 
insects. As an instance of its 
voracity, we have already described (First Mo. Ent. Report, p. 169) how 
a single female devoured eleven Colorado Potato-beetles in one night. 
The eggs are glued tightly together in a 
peculiar mass and are deposited in all 
sorts of situations, but principally on the 
twigs of trees. The eggs are extensively 
infested by a Chalcid parasite of the Packard.) 
genus Podagrion, and the adult Mantis is destroyed by a Tachina fly. 
Netjroptera,or Nerve -winged Insects. — The only species of 
this order that are likely to prey 
upon Aletia belong to the Ant- 
lions (Myrmeleonidce)) the Lace- 
wings (Kemerobiidw), and the 
Dragon-Flies (LibellulidcB). The 
Ant-lions work in the larva state 
in pits in the ground, and the con- 
Fig. 28. — Myrmeleon obsoletus. (From Harris.) Staut plowing thereof will always 
prevent them from doing any material good, and they are naturally 
scarce. The Lace-wings are numerous, but their larvae feed, like the 
lady-birds, on the plant-lice, and have refused to touch Cotton 
Worms when confined in boxes with them. The curious eggs 
of these flies (Fig. 27), attached to the end of a delicate filament, 
are often supposed to be those of Aletia. Many planters state 
that these flies are always to be found where there are larvae of 
Aletia, and Dr. Phares states that their larvae devour the eggs fig. 29— 
1 00 Myrmeleon 
and young Cotton Worms. This is not improbable, though his laiva - 
statement is as yet unconfirmed by other observers. The larvae have 
been seen by Mr. Trelease feeding upon the nectar of the foliar glands. 
The Dragon-flies or Mosquito-hawks are aquatic in the larva state, but 
the perfect insects are active in their pursuit of prey while on the wing, 
and are reported on good authority to attack Aletia both in the worm 
and moth states. Fig. 30, Libclhda trimaculata, is one of the commoner 
species. 
Dr. F. 31. McMeekin, of Morrison's Mills, Alachua County, Florida, 
considers them as the most valuable enemies of Aletia, aud states that 
if is a common sight to see them catch the moths on the wing. 
Lepidoptera. — Butterflies and Moths. — It is incontestably 
pro veil by the evidence of almost every observer we have sent into the field 
