72 



SPOIilA ZBYLANICA. 



The orifice of the gland is apparently connected with the mouth 

 parts, the filament being emitted from the mouth and carried back 

 between the legs of the insect. There seems to be little or no method 

 in their work. The insects wander about, leaving a trail of silk 

 behind them. No definite galleries or runs are constructed, the 

 web being apparently a shapeless tangle of fine threads, in the inter- 

 stices of which tlie insects move about. In the daytime they are 

 usually found resting upon the surface of the bark (beneath the web), 



Web-spinning Psocid (Archipaochua sp.). 



Upper figure — Winged female X 26. 

 Lower figure — Mieropterous female x 26. 



where they probably feed upon minute algse and moulds. Both fully 

 winged and micropterus forms of the adult female occur. In the 

 accompanying illustration the upper figure shows the macropterous 

 and the lower one the mieropterous form. . 



Dr. Gunther Enderlein has recently published a description of 

 an East African species of Archipsocus {A. textor) which has very 

 similar habits. From liis figure of the wing- venation it is probable 

 that our Ceylonese insect is a representative of the same genus. 



E. ERNEST GREEN. 



