46 
APTERA. 
Lepismids are common enough, though all may belong to the 
above species ; they shun light, live behind books among paper and in 
dark corners and are supposed to feed on starchy and sugary matter. 
Their body is clothed with flat scales which give them a greasy feel 
and the shiny appearance that characterises them. The surface of 
paper is commonly eaten by these insects probably because of the 
material used in glazing it and they can be in this way destructive. 
Collemhola. 
We are not aware of any described Indian species and only a few 
have been collected or observed. Species of the first two families 
appear to be common in damp situations as in decaying vegetable matter 
and wet moss, under stones by streams, where water drips and under 
bark. In general one finds such conditions for so brief a time in the 
plains that these delicate insects are probably not abundant, though 
they are so in the hills. 
Collecting .—'Though of no economic importance, this order is well 
worth studying. The best method of collecting is to use a camel-hair 
brush, which is dipped into a mixture of glacial acetic acid and strong 
alcohol and with which the little insects can be caught and put in a 
tube of this mixture. They are afterwards transferred to 70% spirit. 
Berlese’s funnel trap is a good method of separating these insects from 
leaves, moss, etc. 
