2lfi JfEW CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



VIIT. 



A new Method of Chssing the Hymenopteraiis and Dipterous 

 Infects: bij L. Jurine, Correspondent of the Institute, 

 Professor of Anatomiji Sfc*, 



H -mcnoDtcra *"" ^^^ distinction of the order fiymenoptera, pointed out 

 a natural order, by Aristotle, is SO natural, that it has been retained in ev^ery 

 Genera distin- System of entomology to the present day. Linneus, Geoff 

 guished arbi- froy, and Degeer, divided it into a few genera, more or less 

 arbitrary, from various particularities of confirmation : while 

 Fabricius and Lareilje have attended in this point to the 

 or b the arts P^^'^® ^^ *^^ mouth. The difficulty of dissecting this organ 

 of the mouth, however in the smaller species is a great inconvenience; to 

 which IS diiii- avoid which, and at the same time adhere more closely to the 

 / system of classiiication by the wings, Mr. Jurine has recourse" 

 to the disposition of the principal ribs of the wing for the 

 generic characters. 

 New method Having observed, thtit these ribs, by intersecting or termi- 

 by the ribs of nating in each other, form various reticulations, which are 

 c vngs. constantly aniibvm in insects of the same kind, he has stu- 

 died these systematically, and given aci-'urate representations 

 of those of the hymenoptera in 14 coloured plates, included 

 in a quarto volume, in which he details his method. On the 

 outer edge of the upper or larger wing of the hymenoptera 

 are two large parallel ribs, appearing to issue from the corse- 

 let, and strongly united by an expansion of the membrane. 

 The outermost of these he terms the radi a f r'lh, the inner- 

 most the aihifdL The phice where they terminate toward 

 the end of the wing, which is commonly distinguished by a 

 ?':ot or mark more or le'ss deep, he calls the pointy or carpus. 

 The rib that proceeds f'om this point to the extremity of 

 the wing has a membranous' space between it and the outer 

 edge of tlie wing, forming one or more areas, whiph he names 

 Tudtal celts. From the extremity CTf the cu'uital rib, and near 

 the carpus, another -prominent line proceeds towards the ex- 

 tremity of the wing, and the interval between this and the 



* Abri tged frorri tlie Magazhi Eucycloptdio^ue for April, 1807, p. 434. 



preceding 



