Insecta. 87 



render the synonymy of the family very complicated, but it is not the case with 

 Emhia major, for the present paper contains not only füll descriptions of the J* 

 and 2? but also of the ova, larvae, and cf and $ nymphs, together with very in- 

 teresting biological observations. Emhia major is by far the largest known spe- 

 cies of Embiidae, and is the first representative of its genus to be found in the 

 Oriental Region. It appears to be most closely-allied to a S. African species, E. 

 sabulosa^nö.. It was found in the Naini Tal district of the Kumaon Himalayas at 

 elevations of from 4900 — 5100 feet. The actual habitat appeared to be very 

 restricted, though localities apparently similar were plentiful in the surrounding 

 country: over 200 nests were met with in an area l^j^ miles in length. The nests 

 were under flat pieces of stone, in situations neither very dry nor very moist. 

 $5 Avere more prevalent than cfc?; out of 130 nests examiued, 67 per cent con- 

 tained only $$, 23 per cent c?c? and $?, and 9 per cent cfcT only. The nests 

 are composed of a network of silken tunnels and vary very much in form: their 

 size depends largely on the number of individuals inhabiting them. When a large 

 number of individuals is present they all take part in the weaving of a 

 common structure which shelters them all, exhibiting what the author considers 

 to be an incipient tendency towards the formation of colonies. The silk is ex- 

 truded in extremely line threads from the apices of glandulär hairs on the un- 

 der-surface of the enlarged 1^' Joint of the anterior tarsi. It can be produced by 

 larvae, nymphs and adults of both sexes. The nest usually contains an aperture 

 leading from one of the tunnels to a subterranean passage or Chamber, which 

 may or may not be lined with silk: when disturbed the insects frequently take 

 refuge in these subterranean Chambers. The author considers that the silken 

 tunnels act as a protection more against enemies than against excessive tran- 

 spiration, for it is hard to imagine that such delicate structures could make 

 much difference in the latter respect in the hottest and driest part of the year. 

 In several cases the ground under the flat stones was occupied both by the 

 Embia and by a species of Termite: the tunnels of the Termite were in close 

 contact with those of the Embia, and the two forms appeared to be on quite 

 amicable terms with one another. 



The eggs are laid in the monsoon season, during July and August. Each $ 

 lays from about 60 to about 100. They are placed in one of the tunnels and 

 loosely bound by silken threads. They are parasitised by a Scelionid Hymeno- 

 pterous parasite of the genus Emhidobia. Maternal care on behalf of eggs and 

 young larvae is strongly exhibited by the 5?» in much the same manner as has 

 been observed in Dermaptera. The $ conceals her eggs or newly-hatched larvae 

 as far as possible with her body: as the larvae approach their second stage they 

 begin to wander away from the 5 ^^nd construct small tunnels for themselves. 



Larval life lasts from August tili the early part of May, but during the 

 cold-weather months up to March the half-grown larva remains to a large ex- 

 tent dormant, growiug very little. The newly-hatched larva is a relatively spe- 

 cialised example of the campodeiform type, exhibiting no primitive characters 

 which do not occur in the adult $. Larval growth consists principally in increase 

 in size, lengthening of the abdomen, addition of numerous joints to the anten- 

 nae, and darkening of coloration. The nymph stage lasts for two months during 

 May- July; the c? nymph is characterised chiefly by the presence of wing-pads, 

 while the $ nymph differs from the adult only in being lighter coloured and 

 less strongly chitinised. Adult $? are found from June-December, living 6^^ 

 months at least after f ertilisation : adult c^c? are much shorter-lived, being found 

 only from June to August. The larvae and nymphs of both sexes, and the adult 



