CHAPTER XXI 

 THE WINGS OF THE MECOPTERA 



(a) THE MORE GENERAL FEATURES OF THE WINGS OF THE MECOPTERA. 



In nearly all of the winged members of the Mecoptera the wings are 

 long, narrow, membranous, and furnished with a considerable number of 

 cross-veins. The two pairs of wings are similar in form and 

 nearly equal in size ; the hind wings are usually a little shorter 

 than the fore wings. In many species the wings are conspicu- 

 ously spotted or banded (Fig. 313). In a few forms the wings 

 are either absent or vestigial. 



In two genera Merope and NoHothauma, the represent- 

 atives of which are very rare insects, the wings are com- 

 paratively broad. 



Fig. 313 — 

 Panorpa. 



(b) THE VENATION OF THE WINGS OF THE TYPICAL MECOPTERA 



Our conclusions regarding the homologies of the wing-veins of the 

 Mecoptera are based entirely on a study of the wings of adults; for, as yet, 

 the tracheation of the wings of pupae has not been observ^ed. It is not 

 probable, however, that a study of pupal wings would modify these con- 



^j__^. 



J^W ?d^ ' ist A Cu 



Cm Mi, 



Cui Mi, Mi 



Fig. 314. — The wings of Panorpa. 

 (302) 



