STYLOPID7E. 481 



forms are not j-et known, lihipiphoms is a wedge-shaped 

 geiuis, not found in America, li. Finnkus Paykull is saul to 

 be a parasite on Chrysis, tlie cuckoo wasp. It is liere repre- 

 sented by two genera, 3Iacrosktgim and Emmenadia wliich are 

 wedge-shaped, with coarsely punctured and spai'sely pubescent 

 bodies, with the vertex of the head mucli elevated. In ili?/o- 

 dites the elytra are very small. The species are found on Soli- 

 dago or Golden-rod in August. The genus Metoccus is allied 

 to Myodites. 3Ietoecns iKiVddoxus Linn, is in Europe a para- 

 site in the nests of wasps (Vespa) eating the larvie. 



In the genus RJupidins the males have short pointed de- 

 hiscent elytra, while the females are entirely wingless and 

 worm-like. It is a parasite on Blatta Germanica. They are 

 to be looked for in this country, where they have not yet 

 occurred. 



Stylopid.k Kirby. This most anomalous family, both as 

 I'egards the structure and the habits of the few species compos- 

 ing it, were for a long time excluded from the Coleoptera by 

 systematists generally, and by Gerstaecker they are even now 

 placed in the old. "order" Strepsiptcra. The}' are minute 

 forms, and have been characterized thus by Dr. Leconte. 

 •'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, Avhich are convex and ver}' coarsely granulated. Antennoe 

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

 the head ; forked in one genus. Prothorax exceeding^ short. 

 Mosothorax short, bearing at each side a slender, coriaceous 

 club-shaped appendage, with the inner margin membranous : 

 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 of the abdomen ; wings very lai'ge, 

 fan-shaped, with a few diverging nervures ; the epimera are 

 very large, and project behind almost as far as the postscutel- 

 lum. Abdomen small, with from seven to nine segments. 

 Legs short ; anterior and middle coxiie cylindrical, pi-ominent ; 

 hind coxae very small, contiguous, quadrate ; tibiae without 

 31 



