NEUROPTERA. — MANTISPID. 59 
the type of distinct Neuropterous family, very closely allied to Heme- 
robius, both in the trophi and in the general character of the veins of 
the wings. ‘The body is long and narrow ( fig. 66. 18. Mantispa_ pa- 
gana), somewhat like that of Raphidia, with a broad head, large pro- 
minent eyes, short submoniliform antennz, and an elongated prothorax, 
narrower than the head, but dilated in front: the ocelli are wanting, 
the clypeus and labrum distinct ; the palpi short and filiform (fig. 
66. 19. front of the head) ; the mandibles are horny and acute, but 
slightly curved, and occasionally with a small tooth within (_fig.66. 20.) ; 
the maxille are long and bilobed: the outer lobe broadest at the 
tip, where it is subarticulated and pilose; the maxillary palpi are 
5-jointed, the terminal joint being longest (jig. 66. 21.); the labium 
is oblong, extending considerably beyond the insertion of the palpi, 
and entire at the tips (ig. 66. 22.); the prothorax is greatly elon- 
gated, and formed upon the plan of that of the Mantide, but it is 
not margined; the fore legs are attached on the under side close 
to the head (fig. 66. 23.), they are raptorial, like those of the Man- 
tide; the other legs are simple ; the tarsi 5-jointed, with denticulated 
ungues; the wings are of nearly equal size, deflexed at the sides of 
the body in repose, and numerously veined ; the veins being arranged 
somewhat as in the Hemerobiide ; the abdomen is not furnished with 
terminal filaments, or an exserted ovipositor. 
The structure of the fore legs and mouth of these insects warrants 
the conjecture that they are predaceous in their habits. Latreille 
informs us that they reside upon oaks, their habits, and probably their 
metamorphoses, being identical with those of Raphidia. M. Bourgeois, 
who frequently captured M. pagana in the neighbourhood of Lyons, 
communicated a larva to Latreille, constructed like that of Raphidia, 
but considerably larger, and which, Latreille says, “je ne peux rap- 
porter qu’a cette Mantispe.” (Considérations Générales, p. 69.) I 
have in a preceding page noticed the use which has been made of 
these insects, with the view of establishing the passage between the 
Orthoptera and Neuroptera. 
The species are but of moderate or small size, of dull colours, and 
widely dispersed, being inhabitants of Europe, South Africa, India, 
New Holland, Surinam, Brazil, &c. 
