8tylopidce. 5 



It may scarcely be fitting to dismiss the subject of 

 these affinities, without adverting (however briefly) to 

 the arguments which have been advanced, from time to 

 time, as justifying the association of this family with 

 various orders, or indicating connecting links with several 

 of them. 



Although the relations suggested in this respect have, 

 in fact, been so numerous and complex, as almost to 

 have rung the changes throughout these orders ; it 

 was reserved for a distinguished entomologist of late, to 

 complete the series, by absorbing the Stylopidce into 

 his Neivroptera, as a family allied to the Phryganeidce {u) . 



Dr. Gerstiicker had already repudiated the primitive 

 larval and metamorphotic afl&nities of the Stylopidce 

 with the Meloidce (unknown to former writers, prior to 

 the interesting discoveries of Siebold in 1843, of Newport 

 in 1847, and of Fabre in 1857, elsewhere referred to), 

 because in the one case, the larvae subsist upon the bodies 

 of their victims, and in the other upon their honey-store 



(aO. 



But the self-same primitive larval analogy has more 

 recently been detected in the Coleopterous parasite of the 

 Wasp, as recorded by Dr. Algernon Chapman in his 

 " Life History of Bliipipliorus paradoxus " {y) , which may 

 well serve to reconcile all scruples as regards the twofold 

 associations of the Stylopidce with the Bliipiplioridoi on 

 the one hand, and with the Meloidce on the other. 



Previously, however, to this discovery, our lamented 

 member. Dr. Schaum, had confuted, with his usual 

 ability (z), the objections raised by Dr. Gerstiicker as 

 to the alleged incongruity of any such relations; re- 

 butting the arguments advanced in support of their 

 transfer to the Neuroptera; and calling attention to the 

 striking analogy subsisting between the former and the 

 larviform females of Bhipidius blattarwnt,, whose primitive 

 larva3 (still unknown) may not improbably be found to 

 correspond with those of Bhipiphorus [Metoecus, Gerst.), 

 Meloe, and Sitaris. 



(u) Handbuch der Zoologie, Tom. II. p. 78, 1863. 3. Zunft. Strepsvp- 

 tera, Kirby (Rhipiptera, Latr.), Facherfliigler. 5 Fam. StylopidcB, Kirby. 

 (a?; Wiegin. Archiv. 1861, p. 328. 



iv) Aun. and Mag. of Nat. Hist. ser. 4, Vol. VI. p. 314, 1870. 

 (s) Wiegm. Archiv. 1863? p. 145. 



