XELKOfTEKA. 



179 



Living specimens of these insects have been sent to Aus- 

 tralia by our government in the hope of introducing the 

 species there, and thus doing something towards repaying 

 the debt that we owe that country for the Australian Lady- 

 bug, which has rendered us great service in the destruction 

 of the Cottony-cushion Scale in California. 



The family is represented by two genera, Rapliidia (Ra- 

 phid'i-a) and Inocellia (In-o-cel'li-a). In the former there 

 are three simple eyes on the top of the head between the 

 compound eyes; in the latter these ocelli are wanting. 



Family MANTISPID^E (Man-tis'pi-dae). 

 The Mantis-like Neuroptera. 



The members of this family are even stranger in appear, 

 ance than the Raphidians. Here, as in that family, the 

 prothorax is greatly elongated ; but the members of this 

 family can be easily recognized by their remarkable fore 

 legs, which are greatly enlarged and resemble those of the 

 Praying Mantes in form (Fig. 

 218). These legs are fitted for 

 seizing prey; and, in order 

 that they may reach farther 

 forward, they are joined to 

 the front end of the long pro- 

 thorax. In the adult state 

 these insects are predaceous; 

 while the larvae, so far as is 

 known, are parasitic in the 

 egg-sacs of spiders. 



Five species of the family are known from the United 

 States; four of these belong to the genus Mantissa (Man- 

 tis'pa) and one to Symphasis (Sym'pha-sis). 



Fig. 218. — Mantissa. In the specimen 

 figured the fore legs were twisted 

 somewhat in order to show the form 

 of the parts. 



