Marvels of insect life ; a popular account of structure and habit . these flies measureonly an inch across theexpanded wings, there arenear relations (in another genus ^) in America and India which are muchlarger, and, from the enormous development of jaws, of formidable jaws are equal in length to the united measurement of the fore-bodyand hind-body. In their earlier stages their forms and habits are much likethose of the alder-fly ; and the same may be said for the ultimate stage,except that the extraordinary jaws so well shown in our photograph on page 21have n
Marvels of insect life ; a popular account of structure and habit . these flies measureonly an inch across theexpanded wings, there arenear relations (in another genus ^) in America and India which are muchlarger, and, from the enormous development of jaws, of formidable jaws are equal in length to the united measurement of the fore-bodyand hind-body. In their earlier stages their forms and habits are much likethose of the alder-fly ; and the same may be said for the ultimate stage,except that the extraordinary jaws so well shown in our photograph on page 21have no counterpart in the alder-fly, and their purpose has not yet beenmade plain. Giant Water-Bugs. Whoever has interested himself in the Insect life of an average pond hascertainly become acquainted with a number of interesting aquatic representativesof the bug family.* The boatman, the water-scorpion, the water-measurer, andthe water-crickets are the species that are most likely to have attracted attention. 1 Sialis lutaria. S. fuliginosa. ^ Corydalis. * Hcmi])tera. Phnto by Head of Giant Water-Bug. [E. SIfp, In this photograph only the head and shoulders of the giant bug are shown, enlarged fourtimes. The large compound eyes will be seen, and between them is the base of the rostrumor sucking beak, but the beak itself lies along the under side when not in use. Thestrangely-formed antennae are hidden in special pockets on the under side of the head. Giant Water-Bugs. 25 The largest known ofthese aquatic Insects wemay call the giant water-bug,^ a native of Brazil,Guiana, and Trinidad,where it spends the dayin muddy pools andsluggish waters, and inthe evening exercises itswings in the air. Itsrather flat, yellow-brownback has led some peopleto suppose it is an extra-large cockroach, and thewriter received a largespecimen from Trinidadwhich his correspondentspoke of as the electriccockroach, the prefixhaving reference to itsbeing attracted by electric
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecta, booksubjectinsects
