98 MANDIBULATA. NEUROPTERA. 



Family II.— HEMEROBID^, Leach. 



AntennoB filiform or setaceous, inserted between the eyes, elongate, composed of 

 very numerous and very short articulations, the basal one being stoutest; 

 palpi four, maxillary longest, 5-jointed; labial 3-articulate : hodij elongate, 

 soft: head trigonate, inflexed vertically: eyes prominent, semiglobose ; 

 forehead elevated: wings equal, ample, deflexed, very much reticulated, 

 costa distinct: abdomen elongate, compressed, subcylindric, somewhat 

 falcate : legs slender : tarsi short, 5-jointed, articulations entire : claws two, 

 small. 



The insects of this family, or at least their larvae, have been called 

 Aphis-Lions^ from preying upon Aphidas : they are, in general 

 appearance, much allied to those of the preceding family, but are 

 rather more elongate ; they do not, however, conceal themselves in a 

 sandy pit, but clothe themselves with the skins of their prey, and hide 



strong, elongate, acute. Larva terrestrial ; mandibles very stout and 

 porrect, armed within with strong teeth; abdomen large, acute: pupa fol- 

 liculate and quiescent. 

 The type of this family having been introduced by error into the British list, 

 it is necessary for me to notice it : the only genus that has been thus intro- 

 duced is 



Genus XVI.— MYRMELEON, Auctorum. 



Antennae gradually thickened towards the extremities, curved, not longer than 

 the thorax, the articulations transverse ; club ovate, furnished at its apex 

 with a small hook: labial palpi with tlie terminal joint incrassate-fusiform, 

 subulated at the apex: eyes entire : aZ)c?ow?e« very long, linear. 



The insects of this genus are known by the name A7it lAons, from the peculiar 

 habits of their larvae : these reside in sandy districts, and form a conical pit 

 in the sand, at the bottom of which they bury themselves, leaving only their 

 large jaws exposed and expanded, ready to seize the first vnifortunate ant, 

 or other insect, that may fall therein, upon which they prey : they change 

 in a silky follicle into pupae, and the perfect insect frequents similar districts 

 with the larvae, and preys also upon insects. 



•|-Sp. 1. formicarium. Alis hyalinis, fusco-maculatis, stigmate anastomosibusque 

 nonnullis albidis. (Long. corp. 10 lin. ; Exp. Alar. 2 unc. 8 — 10 lin.) 



Myr. formicarium. Linn'e.—Barlmt {\)—Steph. Catal. 310. N'o. 3446, note. 



Wings hyaline, spotted with fuscous, apex acute ; stigma and some anasto- 

 moses whitish ; clypeus with a fuscous dot ; collar with a dorsal line round 

 its edges, and the margins of the abdominal segments reddish-yellow. 



Erroneously introduced as British by Barbut. 



