392 attempted division of british insects. 



Natural Order. — Asilites. 



Larva inhabits the earth ; it is elongate, cylindrical, slightly de- 

 pressed, very smooth, and has a corneous head, which is slightly 

 clothed with down, and armed with two hooks ; the prothorax 

 and paratelum have each a pair of spiracles : feeds on the minute 

 insects which abound near the surface of the ground, especially at 

 the roots of grass. Pupa changes in the same situation, without 

 spinning any cocoon ; it is very smooth, anteriorly cylindrical, 

 posteriorly conical ; the head has a bifid projection in front, and 

 on each side below this is a trifid excrescence ; the prothorax has 

 on each side a tubercle, which seems to contain a spiracle ; the 

 body laterally, and at the extremity, is furnished with small 

 spines. Imago, with the antennae five-jointed ; the basal and 

 second joints moderately long, the three forming the apical 

 portion always distinct ; the terminal joint acute, but not seti- 

 form ; labium large, cylindrical, and corneous ; ocelli three ; 

 wings as long as the body, which they cover horizontally ; alulae 

 obsolete ; body elongate, hairy. Inhabit heath and commons 

 very abundantly, flying a short distance at a time, settling on 

 the ground, and preying on other insects, particularly Diptera. 

 Dasypogon, Asilus, Gonipes. 



Natural Order. — Midasites. 

 Larva and pupa unknown. Imago, with the antennae five-jointed ; 

 the basal joint long, the second short and nearly globular, the 

 three forming the apical portion united into an elongate, stout 

 club, on which the union of the joints is marked transversely ; 

 labium longer and more acute than in the Asilites ; maxillse and 

 mandible acute ; ocelli nearly obsolete ; wings as in the Asilites ; 

 legs and body hirsute. Inhabits woods, forests, settling on leaves, 

 &c. preying voraciously on insects, particularly Hymenoptera. 

 Dioctria ? Laphria ? (Midas.) 



Natural Order, — Empites. 



Larva and pupa unknown. Imago, with antennae five-jointed ; the 

 basal joint oblong, the second nearly globular, the three forming 

 the apical portion often united, of different proportions in dif- 

 ferent genera ; labium very long, slender, recurved, contains 

 elongate and acute maxillae, &c. resembling very much the 

 beak of a bird ; ocelli three ; wings large, particularly wide in 

 the female ; alulae small or obsolete ; body rather hairy, linear, 

 slender. Inhabits woods, lanes, and gardens, preying on other 

 insects. Hilara, Gloma, Empis, Rhamphomyia, Hybos. 





