TIIK SCLERODEEMA. 



407 



Scoliadpe, a grou]) of insects which will presently be descrilietl, 

 but has now been shifted to its present position. 



The whole of the species belonging to this genus, of which 

 there are great numbers, are parasitic upon the larvse and pupa 

 of moths. They are __ \\ v v ^ ""'^^..-- 



little creatures, and =5^ass. ..-^.^ )'. 



the present species, 

 which is among the 

 largest, has been mag- 

 nified two diameters, 

 so as to enable its real 

 form to be seen. It 

 is a native of Para, 

 and its colour is pale 

 yellow. The reader 

 will doubtless have noticed the curiously swollen thigh of the 

 hind leg. It is armed on the lower edge with a row of sliort 

 teeth, and when the curved tibia are closed upon it, the insect 

 looks as if it were one of the jumpers. 



>A ' 



liul.-Scleixideniia dux 

 (Pale yellow ) 



Members of the genus Scleroderma are spread over a great 

 portion of the world. The curious little insect which is here 

 shown is a native of Albania. It is very small, as may be seen 



J/..^N^..^V^ 



Fig. 202.— Sclerodeiina cjlmdnca. 

 (Reddish brown.) 



by the line on the right of the illustration, which represents 

 the real length of the female. Tlie male is very much smaller 

 than his mate — so small, indeed, that it cannot be examined 



