SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH PSOCID^. 19 



SO experienced and able an observer, demands strong evi- 

 dence to substantiate. 



The wings of the PsocidcB are membranous and glabrous; 

 there is, however, a genus, AmpJiientomum, Pictet, in which 

 the anterior wings and body are thickly covered with par- 

 tially metallic scales as in Lepidoptera, so that they resem- 

 ble Nepticulm. The species of this remarkable genus are 

 found, some of them fossilized in amber, others still extant in 

 Ceylon. 



The economy of the Psocidce is in many respects similar 

 to that of their allies the Termites. The larva live grega- 

 riously on plants, trees or in rotten wood. 



The imago occurs associated, often in considerable, some- 

 times in countless, numbers, and in these cases the females 

 greatly preponderate. I have observed neglected heaps of 

 chaff to consist almost entirely of Psoci. The Psoci subsist 

 upon dry vegetable and animal refuse, without, however, 

 committing any real injury. According to my experience 

 the damage they inflict in collections of insects, even to the 

 most delicate creatures, is but insignificant. 



The females lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves 

 generally, but few in number together, and cover them with 

 a tissue, so that they form flat, round, silvery-white spots. 

 The spinning organ is very probably situate in the thick 

 swollen hypopharynx, and not, as has been asserted, in the 

 labrum; at least, I have not succeeded in detecting anythino- 

 like a spinning organ in the latter. 



Whether in copulation the male is placed beneath the 

 female (as the form of the sexual organs renders it likely) I 

 cannot decide; I believe that I have noticed something of 

 the kmd, but can find no memorandum on the subject. 

 After copulation several species remain united, as observed 

 by De Geer, in opposite line, like nocturnal Lepidoptera, 



