ORDER XII. MFXOPTERA. 



PANORPID.^. 



The Mecoptera (often written incorrectly Mecap- 

 tera) form a small order and is represented by 

 Panorpa, or scorpion-fly (Fig. 123). The prothorax 



of this insect is small, 

 like that of the Le- 

 pidoptera ; the meso- 

 thorax and metatho- 

 rax are much larger 

 and bear the two pairs 

 of similarly developed 

 wings, which are long, 

 Fig. 123. narrow, and with few 



cross-veins. These char- 

 acteristics have given the name Mecoptera, from the 

 Greek (fxrJKo<i, length ; irrepov, wing) to the order. 

 The abdomen of the male is long, and near its pos- 

 terior end it is constricted ; but the last ring is 

 enlarged, and bears the long, forcep-like clasping- 

 organs which have given the name of scorpion-fly to 

 the insect. In the female the posterior rings are small 

 and tapering, and bear a pair of short, thread-like 

 organs. 



The small, biting mouth parts are at the end of a 

 kind of beak, or rostrum, which reminds one of the 

 rostrum of the weevils. 

 176 



