37. 

 RAPHIDIA OPHIOPSIS. 



Order Neuroptera. Fam. Raphidiadae Lat., Leach. 



Type of the Genus R. Ophiopsis Linn. 



Rapiiidia Linn., Fab., Lai., &;c. 



Antenn<£ inserted between the eyes, remote, as long as the 

 thorax, nearly filiform, composed of many joints (44 in the male, 

 42 in the female of the type), two first joints robust, last coni- 

 cal. (1.) 



Lahrum exserted, subquadrate, rather broader than long, anterior 

 margin circular, entire. (2.) 



Mandibles corneous, strong, extending beyond the labrum, elon- 

 gate, curved, acute, with two sharp teeth on the internal side. (3.) 

 Maxilla: short, crustaceous, bilobed, ciliated : Palpi short, filiform, 

 4-jointed ; first joint short, second longer, third and fourth of 

 equal length, the latter truncated. (4.) 



Mcntum short, quadrate: Pnlpi short, attached to two immove- 

 able articulations, 3-jointed, last joint long, truncated. (.5.) 

 Clypeus broad, anterior margin nearly straight. Head injiexed, oval, 

 narrowed behind. Eyes prominent. Ocelli 3 in triangle. Thorax 

 icith thejirst segment very long, cylindric. Wings dejlexed, nearly 

 equal in size, reticulated, all the nerves hairy. Abdomen of the male 

 produced at the apex with 2 strong teeth (7. the terminal joints 

 viewed in projile) : of the female terminated by 2 united canals, trans- 

 versely striated, slightly hairy, with two valves at the apex. (G.) 



Ophiopsis Linn. Syst. Nat. 2. 916. I. Fab. Ent. Syst. v. 2. p. 99. 

 n. 1. 



Black, shining. Head slightly punctured. Clypeus, base of 

 antennae, legs (excepting the base and upper surface of the 

 thighs), 2 lines down each side of the abdomen, and a spot on 

 each segment down the back straw colour. \\'ings slightly 

 coloured. Stigma brown. 



Li the Author's and other Cabinets. 



Dr. T..EACH has divided this extraordinary Genus into the 

 following species — 1. R. Londinctisis, 2.oJ/inis, 3. maculicollis, 

 4. ynegaccphala., and 5. Ophiopsis ,■ how far they may be good 

 species it is not easy to determine, as they arc subject to great 

 variations, and the nervures of tlie wings are very inconstant, 

 frequently not agreeing in the same specimen. 



