10 THE IMMATURE STATE OF THE ODOXATA. . 



somewhat semicircular space, and consists of the following parts : a trans- 

 verse sliort part, representing the front of the imago, separated hy a well- 

 marked border from a similar space, representing the epistoma and rhinarium 

 joined in front to the large transverse upper lip, the front part of which is 

 larger than the base and has oblique sides. On each side next to the upper 

 lip, the base of the mandibles is visible. The mandibles, maxillEe, and tongue 

 offer as far as observed no special characters. Mask flat, long, covering the 

 mouth parts beneath, as far as upper lip; extending to between middle legs, 

 except in Gynacantha, in which it extends to hind legs. The fore border is 

 always broader than base, never more than twice as large, and the whole 

 mask is more or less gradually enlarged forward. Side bent up and narrowly 

 marginated. The middle third of fore border is produced and more or less 

 rounded, sometimes forms an obtuse angle, and is always cleft, generally not 

 deeply, — in Gynacantha more deeply, sui-mounted by a comb of small hairs ; 

 on each side the cleft there is sometimes a small tooth, which in Gynacantha 

 is strongly developed. Palpus consists of a narrow, nearly straight lobe, 

 either straight at tip or slightly rounded, produced at inferior angle in more 

 or less developed tooth, and more closely meeting the opposite one. The 

 inner edge is either smooth or finely denticulated ; movable hook, strong, 

 rounded, very sharp, somewhat bent towards the tip and genei'ally reaching 

 the base of opposite one, and exceptionally it either extends beyond the base 

 of opposite or does not quite reach it. Prothorax small, rather convex, 

 rounded behind, more or less produced at the sides; the stigmata are large, 

 open, and transverse, placed behind the prothorax and not covered by it ; 

 except in the La Guayra specimen, in which they are completely covered. 

 The sides of the prothorax are produced above the fore legs in two processes, 

 .more or less divided and of varying proportion to each other. The form and 

 size of these processes, being mostly rather distinct in form and size in the 

 different species, seem to aflbrd good specific characters. Analogous but less 

 developed processes are found above the middle legs, and indications of them 

 above the hind legs. Legs equally distant at base, or so nearly as not to give 

 any character of importance, except in the La Guayra species, in which the 

 hind legs are markedly more distant at base. Legs slender, not reaching tip 

 of abdomen ; femora and tibia? of nearly equal length ; tarsi half length of 

 tibi», three-jointed; — basal joint very short; claws strong, bent, sharp. 

 Thorax comparatively small. Wing cases large, reaching fourth segment 

 or beyond. 



