COLEOPTERA. 



101 



evils," which we have at length learned to view in their 

 true light. 



Before leaving the order Coleoptera, an insect must he 

 mentioned which has much perplexed entomologists 

 namely, the Stylops. This insect, parasitic in its wingless 

 state in the hodies of bees and wasps, is in appearance, 

 habits, transformations, so peculiar or so little under- 



Fig. 40. 



Stylops Aterrima, Newport. 



stood, that naturalists have had much difficulty in placing 

 it, and it has been moved from one order to another. 

 Mr. Westwood has formed it into an order by itself 

 STREPSIPTERA; but it has more recently been replaced in 

 Coleoptera. 



The male Stylops is a singular looking insect, under a 

 quarter of an inch in length, and sometimes very minute ; 

 with a pair of enormous hind-vfiugs, and no fore-wings, 

 differing in this from the dipterous and all other insects 

 possessing only two wings (as e.g., the exceptional wing- 

 less beetles), these having the fore- wings developed while 

 the hind-wings are wanting. That they are the hind and 

 not the fore-wings which are developed, is shown by their 

 position on the thorax relatively to other parts, as the 



