AM'HRAX. 235 



an apical circlet of spines ; fore tarsi variable in shape and 

 pubescence ; front claws varying in size ; pulvilli very small or 

 absent, occasionally well developed. Wings when at rest half 

 open. Venation as in the other Anthracine genera ; only two 

 subniarginal cells ; 3rd vein sometimes with a sliort appendix at 

 its fork ; 2nd vein not infrequently with a recurrent veinlet at 

 its rectangular bend ; both 2nd vein and upper branch of 3rd 

 often sinuous and parallel towards their tips. A prealar hook 

 near base of "ing, generally hidden by the pubescence. 



liange. World-wide ; a very extensive genus. 



Life-historij. Larva an)phipneustic, 13-segmented, nearly cylin- 

 drical, a little tlattened below, tapering at each end. Several 

 European and North American species have been bred from 

 Lepidopterous larvte, and one from the egg-cases of a locust, 

 others being known to live in the cocoons of Hymenoptera. "In 

 cases where the Anthrax larva lives in other larvae these latter 

 pupate before they are destroyed, and the Anthrax larva lies in 

 the pupa of its host " (Lundbecl-). The imagos occur in sandy 

 or dry districts, bare open spots and pathways ; their flight is 

 short but swift. 



Several subgenera of Anthrax were suggested by Osten-Sacken, 

 founded primarily on the wing-markings : Th^fridanthra.v for 

 species with brown wings with more or less hyaline spots; Anthrax 

 (s. str.) for those with clear wings, except for a broad baso-costal 

 dark baud ; Jli/alanihrax for tliose with practically wholly clear 

 wings or at most an infuscated costal margin ; and one or two others. 

 It was urged that these characters were supported by others, and 

 also by the fact that the species of each group were parasitic on 

 a totally different group, or even order, of insects. As, however, 

 intermediate forms are sure to occur, and the subgenera have not 

 been adopted by subsequent authors, they are herein ignored. So 

 far as the Indian species go, JietcJieri and guitatipennis belong 

 to a group with wholly dark wings ; afra, semifuscata, and 

 himalayanus would fall in Anthrax (s. s.) ; whilst all the other* 

 belong to Ilyalanthrax. 



Table of Species. 



1. Anal cell closed clmisa, Brun., p. 253. 



Anal cell open 2. 



2. Wings nearly wholly dark brown. ... 3. 

 Wings always with an appreciable 



clear part 4. 



3. No clearer spots in any of the wing- 



cells Jletc/ien', sp. n., p. 23G. 



Clearer spots on basal half of wing . . (/uttatipennis, sp. n., p. 237. 



4. A distinct oblique baso-costal Aving- 



band 5. 



No such distinct band ; costa generally 

 narrowly, dark, liglit brown, or yel- 

 lowisli, the colour not extending 

 behind anterior cross-vein (nor- 

 mallv) ; or wings practically clear . . 7. 



