Essays on the Microscope / Containing a Practical Description of the Most Improved Microscopes, a General History of Insects, etc., etc.

by George Adams

THE METHOD OF COLLECTING INSECTS CALLED NEUROPTERA.

Those of this class, the fourth order of Linnæus, are chiefly aquatic, residing in the waters as caterpillars, and flying about them in their perfect state. The principal genera are, the libellula, dragon-fly; ephemera, may-fly; phryganea, spring-fly; hemerobius, and panorpa. The libellulæ are considered by the generality of people as containing in them something venomous; and from hence, in addition to the epithet, alone sufficiently tremendous, of dragon-fly, have obtained the several names of adder-spear, adder-bolt, horse-stinger, &c. It must be confessed, that their shape, manner of flight, &c. are such as might readily raise such an idea in the minds of the multitude, who but too often form their decisions from appearances only; but naturalists are unaccustomed to such hasty determinations, and they can safely advise the collector not to be misled by terrific words, nor intimidated from catching them, they being perfectly harmless, indeed more so than the gnats which constitute a part of their food. The butterfly net already described will be very convenient for catching insects of this order, particularly the libellulæ.

They are all of them easily killed, either by pressure of the thorax, or with spirit of turpentine, spirit of wine, or the fumes of sulphur; the same means are to be used in setting them as in the hemiptera.