STYLOPIDAE. 425 



the eyes, on a line with their anterior margin, flabellate in hotli 

 sexes, but with the tenth and eleventh joints connate in tiic 

 females; scutellum not covered by the i)rothorax; hxteral suture 

 of prothorax entirely wanting; elytra very small, wings not folded; 

 middle coxoe very widely separated; epimera of metiithorax large, 

 episterna wide ; ventral segments five, with the genital sheath of 

 both sexes prominent. 



One genus, Myodites, is contained in this tribe ; it is repre- 

 sented on both sides of the continent. lihipidophoruii is used 

 in the Munich Catalogue in place of Myodites. 



Tribe IV.— RHIPIDIIi\I. 



Oral organs atrophied ; eyes very large, finely granulated, 

 occupying the greater part of the head ; autennaj (of the males) 

 contiguous, flabellate ; prothorax without any trace of lateral 

 suture ; scutellum not covered by prothorax ; elytra short, 

 pointed, dehiscent ; wings not folded ; middle coxiE not widely 

 separated ; ventral segments eight. 



Female without elytra and wings; larviform. 



No species of Rhipidius has yet been found in the United 

 States ; but as Blalta germanica, in which R. pectinicornis is 

 parasitic, has been introduced, it is proper that the attention of 

 observers should be directed to the discovery of its parasite. 



Fam. LXXIIL— STYLOPIDAE. 



Oral organs atrophied, except the mandibles and one pair 

 of palpi. 



Head large, transverse, vertical, prolonged at the sides, 

 forming a stout peduncle, at the end of which are situated 

 the eyes, which are convex, and very coarsely granulated. 



Antennas inserted on the front, at the base of the lateral 

 processes of the head ; forked in our genera. 



Prothorax exceedingly short. 



Mesothorax short, bearing at each side a slender, coria- 

 ceous, club-shaped appendage, with the inner margin mem- 

 branous; this appendage represents the elytra. 



Metathorax very large, greater in bulk than the rest of 

 the body, with the sutures of the dorsal pieces all distinct; 

 the postscutellum is conical and prolonged far over the base 



