442 NEMESTRINID^ 



eremochsetous structure prove its relationship to the true Eeemoch.eta on 

 the one side, and the dense pubescence and aerial structure connect it with 

 the Tkomopteea on the other side. If the presence of three pulvilli and 

 the absolutely eremochsetous nature be taken as the most important guides 

 to affinity, then the closest allies are the Cyrtidce, and though the two 

 families appear widely divergent in the structure of the head, abdomen, 

 and squamse, yet the erratic venation of the Cyrtidce shows considerable 

 affinity in Lasia (fig. 259 A), etc. There is no relationship whatever to the 

 Mydaidce or Apioceridw, and the venation is widely distinct from them 

 when analysed. 



The Nemestrinidce are inhabitants of tropical regions, occurring as 

 Osten Sacken says " sporadically in disconnected, limited areas, far distant 

 " from each other, and characterised by a warm, dry, almost rainless, 

 " climate. (Central Asia, South Eastern Europe, some parts of Africa, of 

 " Australia and the deserts of South America.)" ..." where there is a 

 " minimum of rainfall ; " and consequently they are not known in 

 Western Europe nor probably in New Zealand. About one hundred and 

 forty species have been recorded of which about eight are known to occur 

 in Europe, though more than thirty are recorded as Palaearctic, and it is 

 practically impossible for any species to occur in Britain. The species 

 with a long proboscis are said to probe flowers whilst hovering before 

 them, like the species of Bomhylius. The metamorphoses of Hcrvioneura 

 obseura have been partially worked out and figured by Handlirsch (Wien. 

 ent. Zeit., i., 224 and ii., 11, 1882-3), and the full-grown larva has been 

 found in the fully developed pupa of RMzotrogus solstitialis (a very 

 abundant British insect), though the eggs were laid in small heaps in 

 holes in the bark of Silver Firs (Weiss tann en), whence the young larvae 

 issued in great numbers from the burrows in which they were hatched 

 and, having placed themselves erect, were blown away by the wind ; after 

 this it is imagined that they attached themselves by the aid of the 

 ventral hooks to the bodies of female RMzutrogus and were carried by 

 them to the place where she deposited her eggs. The Argentine H. exotica 

 AVied. is said to lay its eggs in the nests of a large Bee {Xylocojia Aur/i'stii 

 St Farg.). The larvae are said to be allied to those of the Lcptidcc. 



Synonymy. — It is curious that the two principal genera in this family have 

 caused strong orthographical disputes, and this is a matter of some importance as 

 both of them have given names to the family and subfamilies. The oldest name is 

 Nemestriniis, which was proposed by Latreille in 1802 and altered by him in 1809 to 

 JSfemestrina ; Agassiz gave " Nom. mythol." as the derivative but I liave been unable 

 to trace such a derivation ; " wa ((^rph = three times threaded as if a spider's web, has 

 been suggested, and probably with good grounds for the " vrnxa^" but is far fetched 

 as a compound. Kemhtrinus has been suggested as an emendation, but I do not 

 know upon Avhat grounds nor from what derivation, and accordingly I retain the old 

 spelling. Ilirmoneura was founded in 1820 by Meigen from " Parallelsclnveber," 

 but I have been unable to trace any Greek derivation ; Agassiz gave " 'p^oj, 

 " comitatus ; vevpov^ nervus,'' but I cannot trace the word " i'pMos." Hermonevra has 

 been suggested as an emendation (from 'ipiJ-a-, prop or support), though Philijipi in 

 1865 made epfxa = opp.os^ Hue or chain (in reference to the veins), and from this some- 



