520. 

 CHRYSOPA ABBREVIATA. 



The short-winged Golden-eye. 



Order Neuroptera. Fam. Hemerobidae. 



Tyjie of the Genus, Hemerobius Perla Linn. 

 Chrysopa Leach, Sam., Curt. — Hemerobius Linn., Fab. 



Antenna inserted in front of the head between the eyes, filiform, 

 pubescent, as long as the body, composed of numerous oblong 

 joints, basal joint the largest, 2nd somewhat chalice-shaped, 

 3rd longer than the following, a little attenuated, the remainder 

 gradually decreasing in size to the apical joint which is some- 

 what conical (1, a portion of the base). 



Labrum transverse, the edges membranous, notched in the 

 middle, the anterior margin densely ciliated (2). 

 Mandibles elongate-trigonate, curved and acute at the apex, 

 with a small tooth below on the inside, having a small portion 

 of the margin pubescent (3). 



Maxillce formed of 2 very pubescent lobes, the internal one 

 ovate, the other more quadrate. Palpi long hairy and 5-jointed, 

 2 basal joints small, 3rd long, 4th a little shorter and clavate, 

 5th the longest, a little dilated at the middle and rounded ob- 

 liquely at the apex (4). 



Mentmn subquadrate. Lip larger, orbicular and pubescent. 

 Palpi considerably longer than the lip, triarticulate, basal joint 

 short, obovate, 2nd longer, 3rd considerably longer, dilated at 

 the middle and rounded obliquely (5). 

 Head short : eyes lateral, very globose brilliant and prominent : ocelli 

 none. Thorax elongated, the prothorax forming a neck as long as 

 the head. Wings very much deflexed in repose, smooth, generally 

 long and narrow, subelliptical, very much reticulated and iridescent. 

 Abdomen short, linear in the male, more dilated and truncated in the 

 female. Legs very short and slender, posterior the longest : tibise 

 simple : tarsi short and 5-jointed, basal joint a little the longest, 3 

 following very short, 5th nearly as long as the 1st: claws airved, acute, 

 dilated at the base : pulvilli rounded (8 apex of tibia and tarsus of 

 fore leg). 

 Eggs pedunculated. 



Larvae active, furnished with antennce long mandibles and palpi, having 

 ^-pectoral legs, and clavate bristly tubercles on each side the thorax 

 and abdomen. Pupae inclosed in a cocoon. 



Abbreviata Curt. Guide, Gen. 739. 3*^. 



In the Cabinets of Mr. Dale, Mr. Paget, and the Author. 



These beautiful insects, with their splendid eyes and exquisite 

 gauze-like vyings, are nearly alUed to the Ant-Lions, and from 

 their preying in the larva state upon plant lice, they have been 

 termed by Reaumur the Aphis-Lion. The perfect insect is 

 short-lived, flies heavily and generally by night, and the scent 

 of it is very offensive. 



