HEMEROBIIDAE 



463 



(Fig. 305, jIT. ledereri\ but none come so far north as Central 

 Europe. Formerly the genus Nemoptera was considered to be 

 allied to Panorpa on account of the beak-like front of the head. 

 The parts of the mouth are, however, different from those of 

 Panorpa, and it seems more probable that if the Nemopterides 

 have to be merged in any of the divisions of Hemerobiidae, 

 they will be placed in Chrysopides or Osmylides. The species 

 of the sub-family were for a long time believed to be peculiar to 

 the continental regions of the Old World, but a species has 

 recently been discovered in Northern Chili. 1 



Sub-Fam. 4. Mantispides. Prothorax elongate; the raptorial 

 front legs inserted at its anterior part. 



The members of this small group are readily recognised by the 

 peculiar structure of the front legs ; these organs resembling those 

 of the Orthopterous 

 family Mantidae, so that 

 the earlier systematic en- 

 tomologists, deceived by 

 this resemblance, placed 

 the Mantispides in the 

 Order referred to. 



The Mantispides 

 possess four membran- 

 ous wings, either sub- 

 equal in size or the 

 posterior pair smaller 

 than the front pair and 



FIG. 307. Mantispa areolaris. Brazil. (After 

 Westwood. ) 



not folded ; the veins of 

 these wings are rather 

 numerous, as are also the cells they form; there is considerable differ- 

 ence amongst the species in this latter respect, owing to the transverse 

 veinlets differing in their abundance. The antennae are short, not 

 in the least thickened at the tip. The head is not produced into a 

 beak. The anterior legs, placed quite at the front part of the thorax, 

 have the coxae very long ; the femur is somewhat incrassate, and 

 is armed on one side with spines ; the tibia is shaped and articu- 

 lated so as to fold closely on to the spines, and to thus constitute a 

 formidable and perfect prehensile organ, the tarsus being merely 

 1 M'Lachlan, Tr. Ent. Soc. London, 1885, p. 375. 



