NEUROPTERA. 

 By R. C. L. Perkins. 





§ 1. General considerations on the Neuroptera. 



The Neuroptera are rather numerously represented in the islands, but the fauna 

 as represented by this group is of the same fragmentary character, as is seen in the 

 other Orders of insects, some of the extensive divisions of Neuroptera being totally 

 unrepresented. 



At present the total number of species known to us amounts to iii, of which 54 

 or nearly one-half belong to the Hemerobiidae (including herein Chrysopides and 

 Myrmeleonides), 29 to the Odonata or dragon-flies, and 25 to the Psocidae. The 

 remaining three species belong to two other divisions and consist of two Termitidae, 

 and a solitary species of Embiidae. 



The divisions Ephemeridae and Trichoptera (or Phryganeidae), and the smaller 

 groups Perlidae, Sialidae and Panorpidae are absolutely unrepresented. The entire 

 absence of the first four of these divisions is a very remarkable fact, as they are aquatic 

 in habits, and the numerous mountain streams and rivers would appear to be admirably 

 adapted for many species ; so that one must conclude that these water-frequenting 

 insects are ill-adapted for passing over wide expanses of ocean. 



The Hemerobiidae, excluding the Myrmeleonides, have 52 species which belong to 

 6 genera. Not one of these species is known to occur in other countries, but two of 

 the genera, which are represented by single species, have no alliance with the other 

 forms, and when this family has been extensively collected in other countries, these two 

 species will probably be found elsewhere. This is almost certain to be the case with 

 the small Chrysopa tnicrophya, a species which is abundant in gardens in towns and 

 settlements, although it has extended its range to a considerable elevation up the 

 mountain sides. A single species, referred temporarily to Megalomus (although not a 

 true member of that genus), is more remarkable ; it may even prove to be peculiar to 

 the islands, but will more probably ultimately be found elsewhere. It is noteworthy 

 that both these insects are of general distribution over the islands, in contrast with 

 most other species of this family, which are so often confined to a single island. 



Nineteen species are included in the genus Nesomicromus, which has been founded 

 F. H. II. 5 



