284 



STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN MECOPTERA. 



No. i. The New Family Nansochoristid.e^ with descriptions 

 OF A NEW Genus and four new Species: and an Appendix 



DESCRIPTIVE OF A NEW GeNUS AND SpECIES FROM NeW ZEA- 

 LAND. 



By R. J. TiLLYARD, M.A., B.Sc, F.L.S., F.E.S., Linnkan 

 Maclkay Fellow of the Society in Zoology. 



(Plates xvi.-xvii.; and three Text-figures.) 



Introduction. 



The Order Mecoptera comprises the peculiar insects commonly 

 known as Scorpion-flies, because of the large forcipate append- 

 ages of the male. These, in some of the commonest genera, are 

 carried curved dorsally over the end of the abdomen, thus simu- 

 lating the corresponding well-known attitude of the scorpion. 

 Originally regarded as merely a family ( PanorpidcF) within the 

 old heterogeneous Order Neuroptera, these insects were first 

 raised to the dignity of a separate Order by Brauer, under the 

 designation Panorpatse, in 1885. The following year, Packard 

 issued his equally famous classification of the In.secta, in which he 

 also placed them as a separate Order, with the name, Mecapteia. 

 It being agreed upon that all Orders of Pterygote Insects should 

 have names terminating in "-ptera," Packard's name has in 

 general been adopted in place of Brauer's, and has been equally 

 generally altered to Mecoptera, the original name having been 

 badly derived (Greek /xtJkos ■= length). Though some of the more 

 conservative of entomologists still refuse to recognise these 

 insects as constituting a distinct Order (see, for instance, Sharp 

 in "Cambridge Natural History, Insects, Part i.,'* p. 449), yet 

 such an attitude is quite inconsistent with the opinions of all 



