36 HOW TO TEACH BEETLES, BUGS, AND LOCUSTS. 
ing. The American Belostoma lays its eggs on 
stones, reeds, and other submerged things near the 
shores of ponds where the soil is moist. There are 
large clusters of these eggs, often numbering as 
many as fifty or sixty, in a single cluster. They 
are said to be nearly a quarter of an inch long and 
spotted with brown. 
The eggs are supposed to hatch in an almost 
perfect condition, and the nymphs, as they are 
called, creep into the water where they are be¬ 
lieved to feed on larvae of aquatic insects. They 
are supposed to moult several times and in the 
course of a year to develop a pair of perfect wings. 
After this, they live about the water by day and 
fly about at night. They dive with perfect ease and 
creep about on the bottoms of ponds in search of 
prey. Their dull brown color is very effective in 
protecting them, for when seen through the water 
they look not unlike dead brown leaves moved over 
the bottom by the movement of the water. 
The Belostoma thrive well in aquaria where they 
dive and swim with the greatest ease. The 
larger species seize small fish and tadpoles and 
extract their juices. Thus the life of a pond is one 
never-ending tragedy. 
“ One vast, savage, grim conspiracy, 
Of mutual murder, from the worm to man, 
Who himself kills his fellow .”—Edwin Arnold. 
PLANT-LICE. 
An examination of the leaves and stems of most 
herbaceous plants will usually disclose the presence 
