To the Editor of the "Nori-Cuiwa' Darcy News"
Sm—In your valuable paper of August 6 the author of "A Country Diary" under date of August 2 describes the well known sand pits made by the larvae of the insect popularly known as the ant-lion, and scienti-tically as Myrmeleon. The imago or perfect insect of this species may be seen at such- places as Peitaiho or Weihdiwei flying round the electric lights at night, or resting on the ceiling or walls of the verandah during the day. It looks something like a dragon-fly, but may - easily be distinguished' by the fact that when at rest it folds its wings back over: its long abdomen instead of holding them out at right angles to the body as does the dragon-fly. Also" it has distinct antennae, which are so small, in the dragon-fly as scarcely to be noticeable. It is of a drab grayish brown colour, the lacy wings being rather beautifully mottled. It is a close relation of the dobson-fly hellgramite (Corydalis cornutus), so well known to fly fishermen, and also the lovely little green lacewings (Chrysopa), which is very common in our Shanghai gardens in summer. All belong to the order Neuroptera, or nerve-winged insects.
The author of "A Country Diary" is perfectly correct in his description -of the ingenious means used by the Jarva of the aht-lion to capture its prey, which consists chiefly of ants hence its name—although any. other insect which. happens to wander into its pit suffers the same fate as the unfortunate ant, The little pits in the sand may*be found at any -seaside resort well above high water mark, preferably under some cliff where they are sheltered from rain. They may also be found in similar situations in ravines far.in_ the interior of the country, where there is the necessary sand. The sand is thrown, up by peculiar flicking motions of the insect's head,. which is jerked back! sharply over its back, the long pincer-like jaws acting as a pitchfork. When removed from its home in the sand the ant-lion larva moves rapidly backwards by means of a funny up-and-down motion of its abdomen: it does not seem to be able to proceed in a forward direction with any degree of comfort. Placed on sand this movement: of its abdomen immediately buries When lying at the bottom of its sand pi with the tips of its jaws just shower it will seize any minute object, such tus a piece of dried grass stalk, drop~ ped in, As' soon, however, as it dis covers it.is not edible, it will jerk it out of the pit. This process may be repeated several times before the little insect. gets tired of it and refuses to take notice of anything dropped into its pit for a time.
In my "A' Naturalist's Note-Book in Chinn," page 247, is given a sketch of the larva of the ant-lion. I am not aware of any zoologist as yet having described and named the Chinese form oF forms of ant-lion, but the European species is known as Myrmeteon nostras Fourcroy, though it has also. been known as M. europaeus and 'M. formicarium. engaged in raising funds for the National Treasury and collecting "comforts" for the wounded soldiers, and who. bother no -one but their own nationals? The fact that the "Red Marias" of our Settlement Police are no match for the tanks and' armoured cars of the Japanese Landing Forces is no reason why the burden of paying strict observance to neutrality should fall upon the Chinese only. Your enlightenment on these points will be much appreciated by
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.