324 STUDIES IX AUSTRALIAN NEUROPTEI^A, iv., 



Family TKICHOM ATII)^,* fam.nov. 

 (Plate xviii., tig. '34; Plate xix., fig. 3a ) 



Small or moderate-sized insects, with the wliole l)()dy, and the 

 veins and margins of the wings, densely elotlied with thick hairs. 

 Head moderately wide, the hasal joint of the anteiinje much 

 enlarged, .sometimes hypertrophied. Wings variable in shape. 

 Costal area of forewing narrow: recurrent veinlet at base either 

 absent or rudimentary. lu forewing, Sc and R run close 

 together, but remain (juite .separate thioughout their length: 

 cross- veins between them either al).sent, or one only. Jn the 

 hind wing, Sc and R also remain (juite separate, but are some- 

 what further apai't. A single radial sector present in both 

 wings, with 3-5 branches. M fused basally with K, and forked 

 in both wings. Cu forked in forewing, simple in hindwing 

 (original Cu., absent). No unspecialised cross-veins present, 

 there being only a .single (distal) gradate .series in forewing, two 

 or three cros.s-veins connecting Rs with R, and a few others 

 placed in suitable positions for supporting the main veins: in 

 hindwing, very few cross-veins, and no gradate series. Along 

 posterior bojder <jf wing, there are numerous, short branches 

 from the main veins: tliis border also carries a dense fringe of 

 very long hairs, whicli may even exceed in lengtli the width of 

 the wing itself. A small coupling apparatu.s, with frenulum, 

 present at bases of wings. No false origin to Rs in hindwing. 



1 propose this family for the reception of two extraordinary 

 in.sects recently captured at light, one b)' Mr. O. Lower, at 

 Broken Hill, N.S.W., the other by Dr. A. J. Turner, at Rri.s- 

 bane. Though very different in appearance, these insects are 

 united by a large number of common characters. They also differ 

 from all Neuroptera, except the Chrysopiofc, in combining the 

 absence of fusion of Sc and R with the presence of only one Hs 

 in the forewing. Their differences from Chrysopidcc are so great 

 and obvious as scarcely to need commenting upon, since they 

 possess none of the striking specialisations of that family. They 

 difller from all other Neuroptera in the immense development of 



* Greek rpi^oixa = a .shock of hair. 



