THE SCLERODERMA. 



407 



Scoliadae, a group of insects which will presently be described, 

 but has now been shifted to its present position. 



The whole of the species belonging to this genus, of which 

 there are great numbers, are parasitic upon the larvae and pupa? 

 of moths. They are _^ | ~"\s7^ 



little creatures, and 

 the present species, 

 which is among the 

 largest, has been mag- 

 nified two diameters, 

 so as to enable its real 

 form to be seen. It 

 is a native of Para, 

 and its colour is pale 

 yellow. The reader 

 will doubtless have noticed the curiously swollen thigh of the 

 hind leg. It is armed on the lower edge with a row of short 

 teeth, and when the curved tibia are closed upon it, the insect 

 looks as if it were one of the jumpers. 



Kio. 



Ml. — Scleroderma dux. 

 (Pale yellow.) 



Members of the genus Scleroderma are spread over a great 

 portion of the world. The curious little insect which is here 

 shown is a native of Albania. It is very small, as may be seen 



Fig. 202. — Scleroderma cylindrica. 

 (Reddish brown.) 



Female. 



by the line on the right of the illustration, which represents 

 the real length of the female. The male is very much smaller 

 than his mate — so small, indeed, that it cannot be examined 



