of a new Strepsipterous Insect. 65 



attached, the body (l) is again membranous, and transversely 

 plicated, preserving this character externally until it meets with 

 the mesothorax, the narrow dorsal plate next in succession, and 

 a cordiform one (m) placed obliquely, the apex resting in a hollow 

 of the anterior margin of the medipectus, and the rounded 

 anterior lobe concealing and articulated with the base of the 

 elytron (n) : a small interval exists between the base of the elytron 

 and the mesothorax, which is quite membranous and plicated. 

 The postpectus is a single shield, with a narrow dark line dividing 

 it posteriorly into two parts. 



The metathorax is as enormously developed as the prothorax 

 and mesothorax are contracted in dimensions ; it is divided into 

 two parts by a narrow transverse plate, the anterior subpenta- 

 gonal.and subdivided dorsally into four smaller parts, of which that 

 in the middle line and farthest forward is the smallest, and five- 

 sided ; that resting against the narrow transverse plate, triangular; 

 the lateral trapeziform, and beneath the outer angle of them the 

 wings arise. The posterior of the two parts of the metathorax 

 is triangular, the base in contact with the narrow transverse plate ; 

 the apex rounded, and extending over the dorsal parts of the first 

 four abdominal rings : similarly formed plates cover the lateral 

 portions of the first two rings. 



The legs are not cylindric, varying very much in appearance 

 according to the position from whence they are viewed ; the fore- 

 legs shortest and most slender ; the coxa is short, tumid, and 

 curved ; the femur rather longer and subtriangular ; the tibia 

 elongate, clavate {it) ; the tarsus {v\ v^\ ?;"', v") composed of four 

 joints, of which the first (v^) is longest, the remainder diminishing 

 successively in size, all bilobed, and transversely curved, send- 

 ing off from the concavity a thin transparent appendage, re- 

 sembling the joint itself, but unlobed, the inferior surface having 

 rows of strong hairs, which also crown the margins. There are 

 no vesicles. 



The elytron arises, as we have shown, from the anterior lobe of 

 a cordiform plate, which joins the medipectus, and which is ele- 

 vated and rounded to admit of the articulation. The base of the 

 elytron is a little bulb or ball, a neck very apparent anteriorly 

 joining it to the thin elongate ribbon-like part, which curved 

 backwards and upwards on itself, forms the exposed part of the 

 elytron viewed from above ; the anterior edge is thickened. 



The abdomen is soft, sessile, incrassate, of nine segments. 



