RHIPIPHORIDAE. 275 



Fam. lxi.— rhipiphoridae. 



Mentum trapezoidal, supported by a gular process ; ligula 

 membranous, prominent, frequently bilobed; labial palpi 

 3 -jointed. 



Maxillae with prominent base, and two lobes, which are 

 connate at base, the inner one sometimes atrophied ; maxil- 

 lary palpi 4-jointed, not dilated. 



Head vertical, affixed to the prothorax by a very slender 

 neck, which is entirely contained in the prothorax ; vertex 

 usually elevated; eyes large, very finely granulated, except 

 in the first tribe ; mandibles not emarginate at tip, entirely 

 corneous, without any membranous border on the inner 

 margin ; labrum prominent. 



Antennae 11-jointed (10-jointed in certain females), pecti- 

 nate or flabellate in the males, frequently serrate in the 

 females. 



Prothorax as large as the elytra at the base, much narrowed 

 in front, lateral suture wanting (in our genera) ; coxal cavi- 

 ties large, open behind, confluent. 



Mesosternum short, declivous, separating the coxae ; side 

 pieces very wide, attaining the coxae; metasternum large; 

 side pieces narrow in the first, wide with large epimera in 

 the other tribes. 



Elytra rarely covering the abdomen, usually narrowed 

 behind, and dehiscent, sometimes (Myodites) very small ; 

 rarely (Bhipidius) wanting in the female, in which case the 

 wings are also wanting, and the body is larviform. 



Abdomen with free segments, variable in number. 



Legs generally long; anterior coxae large, conical, conti- 

 guous, without trochantin, overlying the middle coxae, which 

 are transverse or oblique, usually slightly separated, without 

 trochantins ; hind coxae transverse, lamellate, contiguous ; 

 spurs of tibiae usually distinct; tarsi filiform, anterior and 

 middle ones 5-jointed, hind ones 4-jointed ; claws pectinate 

 or toothed, rarely simple. 



The perfect insects are found on flowers ; the larvae of the 

 second tribe are known to be parasitic on Hymenopterous, and 

 those of the fourth on Orthopterous insects. 



Four tribes are thus distinguished : — 



Elytra as long as the abdomen, not dehiscent. Evaniocekini 



