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THE STUDY OF INSECTS . 
Family CHRYSOPID^E (Chry-sop'i-dae). 
The Lace-winged-flies or Aphis-lions . 
If one will search the foliage of herbs, shrubs, or trees, 
there may be found, running rapidly around on the leaves, 
sturdy, spindle-formed, little insects that have great sickle¬ 
shaped jaws (Fig. 219). These larvae are always hungry, 
and will kill and eat any insects that they can overpower; 
Fig. 219.—Eggs, larva, cocoon, and adult of Chrysopa . 
but as they are especially destructive to plant-lice, they are 
called Aphis-lions. 
When an Aphis-lion is full grown it rolls itself up into a 
tiny ball and weaves around itself a glistening, white 
cocoon, which looks like a large seed-pearl. It may be 
supposed that while the Aphis-lion is secluded in this pearly 
cell it repents its greedy, murderous ways, and changes in 
spirit; at least the body changes greatly, for, after a time, a 
circular lid is made in the cocoon, and out of this emerges 
a beautiful, dainty creature, with delicate-veined, green 
wings, a pale green body, slender, brown antennae, and 
a pair of large eyes that shine like melted gold. It is 
