158 Orthorrhapha brachycera. 



case there is. according to Erichson, (Entomographien, I. 1840, 136) 

 a labniin and niaxillæ present: in other species the proboscis is very 

 short, and it niay perhaps be quite absent. It is recorded that 

 liypopliarynx and niaxiilary paipi are nevcr present in the family. 

 Thorax is large and buibous, nearly globular. the mcsopieura are 

 large, the metapieura much arched, clotlied with a tuft of hairs; 

 scutellum is raliier large. Abdonien soniewhat inflated, consisting of 

 tive lo six observa])le segments; the iirst segment is small. Legsstrong, 

 without bristles; tibiæ without apical spurs; the claws are strong; 

 there are two pnlvilli and a pulvilliforni enipodiuni. Wings with the 

 costal vein reaching to the apex ; the venation very diflerent and 

 irregular, sometimes it is complete with a real discai cell formed by 

 the discai vein, in other cases it is very incomplete. It would require 

 a thorough study of tlie whole family to ascertain the certain honio- 

 logies of the veins in the different genera; with regard to our species 

 I refer to the descriptions of the genera. Sciuamulæ are very charac- 

 teristic, the thoracic squaniula is veiy large, roundish and arched, 

 the margin is thickened and has a dense fringe of hairs, sometimes 

 the squamula is finely haired on its upper surfacc : it covers the 

 halter entirely; the alar squamula is small; the alula distinct, semi- 

 circular. In rest the wings are borne slightly open and in a roof- 

 shaped way. 



The larvæ live parasitically on Arachnids, in the egg-cocons or 

 in the abdomen; species of Acrocera, Oncodes and AstomeUa have 

 been bred. The young larva of an Oncodes species is described by 

 Konig (see under Oncodes). and the young larva of a New Zealand 

 species, Henops hrunneus Hutt., is described by Maskeli (Trans, and 

 Proceed. New-Zealand Inst. XX, 1888. 106. pi. X). The only fuUy 

 developed larva described is that o( Asfomelln Lindenii, (Braiier: Verh. 

 k. k. zool. bot. Gesellsch. Wien, XIX, ISC.'.I. 737, Tab. XIII, Fig. 1— G. 

 and Denkschr. d. kais. Akad. d. Wissensch. Wien, math. nat. Classe, 

 XLVII, 1883, Taf V, Fig. 89—92). Il is relatively short and thick, 

 the body consisls of Iwelve segments; Ihe head is small, wilh small 

 mandibles and niaxillæ. The larva is ampliipneuslic wilh prothoracic 

 and terminal spiraclos (Konig describes the Oncodes larva as mela- 

 pneustic). The pupa is free; it has a median, longitudinal row of 

 spines on the dorsal side of thorax. The larva was lying in the 

 abdomen of a Cteniza ariana, with the terminal spiracles in one of 

 tlie lungs of the Cteniza. Before pupation the larva lefl the now 

 dead Arachnid and transformed in the nest. According lo the obser- 

 vations of Stein (Stett. Ent. Zeil. X. 118) and Konig the eggs are 

 deposiled on dead branches or on Equisetum; the young larvæ are 



