OF INSECTS. 331 



ACANTHOMERA IMMANIS. 

 PLATE XXXV. Fig. 2. 



THIS represents one of the most gigantic Dipterous 

 insects hitherto discovered, and which appears to be 

 the Acanthomera Immanis of Weidemann, (Auss. 

 Zweifl. Ins. 2. app. p. 623,) although the description 

 of the author is very incomplete, the only specimen 

 which he had seen being in a very mutilated state. 

 The specimen here figured is nearly two inches long 

 and three inches in the expanse of the wings. It 

 is a female, which sex differs from the males in 

 the simple posterior femora, thus shewing the im- 

 propriety of the generic name which is derived from 

 the toothed posterior thighs of the males alone, 

 (which only were known to Weidemann when he 

 established the genus.) The minute silvery dots, 

 arranged in curved series on the second, third, and 

 fourth abdominal segments, are very peculiar. The 

 specimen here figured is in the collection of the 

 Entomological Club and was presented by G. S. 

 Bowerbank, Esq. It is from Brazil. 



We have now completed our proposed review of 

 all the orders of the Ptilota or winged insects. The 

 three last orders indicated in the synoptical table, 

 (page 200) include such genera as Pulex, Lepisma, 

 Pediculus, Ricirius, and a few others of a similar 

 nature, the general history of which forms a some- 

 what distinct department of the subject, not of very 

 general interest, and which it is no part of our 

 plan to enter into at present. 



