6 - A 
CHAPTER XVI. 
Order Mecoptera (Me-cop'te-ra). 
The Scorpion-flies and others . 
The members of this order have four wings ; these are 
membranous , and furnished with numerous veins . The head 
is prolonged into a beak , at the end of which biting mouth 
parts are situated. The metamorphosis is complete . 
This is a small order composed of very remarkable in¬ 
sects. Ihe most striking character common to all is the 
shape of the head, which is prolonged into a beak (Fig. 223). 
The name Mecoptera is from two Greek words; 
mecos, length ; and pteron , a wing. This order 
includes only a single family, the Panorpidce . 
Family PANORPID/E (Pa-nor'pi-das). 
The Scorpion-flies and others. 
We have found representatives of this family 
quite abundant on rank herbage growing on 
Fig. 223 -Head t ^ ie banks of a shaded stream ; we have also 
*nol)a}° lPa ' found them in damp woods where there was a 
luxuriant undergrowth of herbaceous plants. 
These insects take flight readily when disturbed ; they are car¬ 
nivorous both in the adult and in the larval state. The larvae 
larvae so far as known are remarkable on account of their 
great resemblance to caterpillars. Not only is the form of 
the body like that of a caterpillar, but the abdomen is fur¬ 
nished with fleshy pro-legs. There are, however, eight pairs 
of these ; while caterpillars, as a rule, have only five. 
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