37. 

 RAPHIDIA OPHIOPSIS. 



OiiDEK Neuroptera. Fam. Eaphidiadffi Lat., Leach. 



Type of the Genus E. Ophiopsis lAnn. 

 Kaphidia Linn., Fab., Lat., &c. 



Antenym inserted between the eyes, remote, as long as the 

 thorax, nearly filiform, composed of many joints (44 in °thc male, 

 42 iu the female of the type), two fii-st joints robust, last coni- 

 cal. (1.) 



Labriim exserted, subquadrate, rather broader than long, anterior 

 margin circular, entire. (2.) 



Mandibles corneous, strong, extending beyond the labruni, elon- 

 gate, curved, acute, with two sharp teeth on the internal side. (3.) 

 Maxilla short, crustaceous, bilobed, ciliated : Palpi short, filiform, 

 4-jointed ; first joint short, second longer, third and foui'th of 

 equal length, the latter truncated. (4.) 



Mentuni short, quadrate : PaliH short, attached to two immove- 

 able articulations, 3-jointed, last joint long, truncated. (5.) 

 Clypeus broad, anterior margin nearly straight. Head injlexed, oval, 

 narrowed behind. Eyes prominent. Ocelli 3 in triangle. Thorax 

 with the first segment very long, cylindric. Wings defiexed, nearly 

 equal in size, reticulated, all the nerves hairy. Abdomen of the male 

 produced at the apex with 2 strong teeth (7. tlie terminal joints vieiced 

 inprqfile) : of the female terminated by 2 united canals, transversely 

 striated, slightly hairy, with Uoo valves at tfie apex. (6.) 



Ophiopsis Linn. Syst. Nat. 2.916.1. Fab. Ent. Syst. v. 2. p. 99. 



M. 1. 



Black, shining. Head slightly punctured. Clypeus, base of 

 anteuuse, legs, (excepting the base and upper surface of the 

 thighs), 2 lines down each side of the abdomen, and a spot on 

 each segment down the back straw colour. Wings slightly 

 coloured. Stigma brown. 



In the Author's and other Cabinets. 



Dr. Leach has divided this extraordinary Genus into tlie follow- 

 ing species — 1. E. Londinensis, 2. ajffinis, 3. maculicollis, 4. 

 megacephala, and 5. Ophiopsis ; how far they may be good species 

 it is not easy to determine, as they are subject to great variations, 

 and the nervures of the wings are very inconstant, fi-equently not 

 agreeing in the same specimen. 



