480 
HEMEROBXtJS* 
Genus IV Uemeralm . 
Tim tribe of infects have obtained the name of heme- 
robii from the fhortnefs of their lives, although they con- 
tinue in their winged ilate longer than a day. This ge- 
nus is diftinguifhed by having the mouth armed with two 
•teeth and four palpi ; the wings hang down, without 
being folded ; the antennas are fetaceous, advanced before 
the head, and longer than the thorax, which is convex *i 
Nature feems to have fpread plant lice upon almoft 
every plant, far the mantainance of thoufands of her 
offspring. In their larva (late, the hemerobii are great 
devourers of tliefe animals ; and from that circumftance 
they have obtained the name of lions of plant licef. 
Even after their transformation, the hemerobii retain 
their carnivorous habits : Not fatisfied with making war 
upon the plant lice, who tamely fuffer themielves to be 
devoured, they do not fpare thofe of their own kind. 
The moment thefe infects enter upon life, they find 
themfelves, by the precaution of their aaceftors, fituated 
among thoufands of fmall animals, which, without any 
effort, they deilroy. In lefs than a minute after the plant 
loufe has been fer/.ed, the whole vifeera and juices are 
fucked from its body. Some fpecies make a covering 
for their body of the carcafes which they have thus emp- 
tied, and carry them about as trophies upon their backs. 
The 
Syft. Nat. p. 91 1, 
f Reaumur, Tom, III. mens. II. 
