[ 107 ] 



XII. Contributions to a Knowledge of the Structure and Biology of some Indian 

 Insects. — II. On Embia major, sp. nov., from the Himalayas. By A. D. Imms, 

 B.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., Forest Zoologist to the Government of India and Fellow 

 of the University of Allahabad. 



(Plates 36-38 and 6 Text-figures.) 



Eead 3rd April, 1913. 



Contents. 



Page 



1. Introductory Remarks 167 



2. Description of the Male 169 



3. Description of the Female 177 



4. Comparison of the Differences between the Sexes 179 



5. Systematic Position of the Species 180 



6. The Ova 180 



7. The Newly Hatched Larva 182 



8. The Second Stage Larva 182 



9. The Half-grown Larva 183 



10. The Male Nymph 183 



11. The Female Nymph 184 



12. Observations on the Biology of the Species 184 



13. Summary of Conclusions 191 



14. Bibliography 192 



15. Explanation of the Plates 194 



1. Introductory Remarks. 



J^HE Embiidae form a small and well-defined group of Insects of very wide dis- 

 tribution. In tbeir range they are almost cosmopolitan, being absent only from the 

 polar and cooler temperate regions of tbe earth. They exhibit a remarkable simplicity 

 and uniformity of structure which are partly due to primitive features in their 

 organization, and to the fact that certain other characters have been probably 

 secondarily acquired through degeneration. They further exhibit in almost all of the 

 species very marked sexual dimorphism. It has long been known that the individuals 

 of both sexes have the faculty of secreting silk, with which they manufacture the 

 tunnels constituting their nests. That the Enibiidse are an ancient group, and now 

 long past the zenith of their prime is probable. In this respect they are worthy of 

 comparison with Beripatus and Anaspides among otber Arthropods. 



The described species of Embiidse are about sixty in number, the exact figure 

 depending upon the validity of certain specific names. So far as I have been able to 

 ascertain, forty-two of these species have been based upon an acquaintance with one sex 



SECOND SERIES. — ZOOLOGY, VOL. XI. 27 



