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pterygota—winged or secondarily apterous insects
Order Ephemeroptera (May Flies) (Plate 1 Fig. 3)
Delicate insects. Large forewings, small hind wings, short antennae,
two or three long anal processes conspicuous when wings held over the
body. Eyes large in males, smaller in females, sometimes raised above
head. Mouth parts absent. Thorax well developed, abdomen tapering,
hairy. Colour pearly or grey. Wings transparent with markings or darker
tinge.
Eggs laid in masses in gelatinous strings or under stones in water.
Nymphal life long, adult short lived. Males die soon after mating, females
after laying eggs. Dance in air. Of no economic value. About 1000 species
known ; less than 100 in the Indian region, mostly from hill stations. Some
found damaging wood work. Nymphs of Anaganesia damage wood of
boats on lakes, some like Povilla bore into trunks of partially submerged
trees.
Read. Chopra B. N. (1927) Rec. Ind. Mus. 29:91 Indian
Ephemeroptera.
Eaton A. E. (1892) J. Asi. Soc. Bengal 60:406. Notes on Ephemeridae
of Ind. Mus.
Hafiz A. A. (1937) Rec. Ind. Mus. 39:351 Indian Ephemeroptera.
Order Odonata ( Dragon-Flies) (Plate 1 Fig. 4)
Adult with large mobile head, big eyes, compact thorax, a long thin
abdomen ending in a pair of claspers. Body brightly coloured, wings long
transparent, full of veins, coarse, plain or coloured, iridiscent, a deep
nodus (= a cross vein) and a Pterostigma (= thick dark short vein) on the
upper margin.
Eggs laid in or near water. Larva aquatic flattish, active, with 3 pairs
of legs abdomenal segments clearly seen, carnivorous, occa¬sionally
eating their own kith and kin. Breathe with gills. Eject water from anal
FAUNA 365