330 INSECTS. NEUROPTEKA. 



The Ephemerae have the body elongated ; the eyes very large ; the first segment 

 of the thorax small ; the wings triangular, raised, horizontal, reticulated ; abdo- 

 men long, cylindrical. The term Ephemera has been applied to these insects on 

 account of the short duration of their life when they have acquired their perfect 

 form. There are some species which never see the sun. They are developed after 

 its setting, and before it rises again above the horizon, they have fulfilled the pur- 

 poses of nature and are dead. These insects appear at different periods in surpris- 

 ing numbers, according to the species and the countries they inhabit. 



E. vulgata, Lin. Body of mixed brown and yellow ; wings brown, 

 with five or six spots of deeper brown ; the three filaments of the 

 tail much longer than the wings. Inhabits Europe, in lakes and 

 rivers. Nouv. Diet. x. 348. 



SECTION II. FILICORNES. 



Antennae generally composed of a great number of joints, some- 

 times thickest towards the end, sometimes filiform or setace- 

 ous, and longer than the head. 



The wings in this family are almost always placed horizontally on the body or 

 sloping like a roof ; the inferior ones longest in a small number, when these organs 

 are extended horizontally. Some have very distinct mandibles, large, or of medium 

 size, and the inferior wings extended or slightly folded on their internal margin. 

 The maxillary palpi at least are projecting. The larvae in the aquatic species do 

 not form cases or tubes. 



FAMILY III. PLANIPENNES. 



TRIBE I. PANORPATJS. 



Tarsi with five joints ; antennae setaceous or filiform, and com- 

 posed of a great'number of joints ; fore part of the head form- 

 ing a rostrum, or prolonged and narrowed like a beak ; in- 

 ferior wings sometimes long and narrow. 



I. Wings in both sexes. 



Gen. NEMOPTERA (Nemopteryx. Leach); BITTACCS, PANORPA. 



II. Females apterous. 

 Gea. BOREUS. 



Gen. PANORPA, Lat. Lin. 



Wings with large reticulations; antennae setaceous; eyes smooth; 

 four palpi ; tarsi terminated by two hooks and a ball ; the 

 last three segments in the abdomen of the male in the form 

 of rounded knots, the last largest ; abdomen of the female 

 conical and pointed. 



P. communis, Lat. Body elongated, black, with the rostrum and 

 extremity of the abdomen reddish, and the wings spotted with 

 black ; wings transparent, with black spots ; feet pale rufous. 7 

 lines long. Europe, in hedges and woods Sharv, vi. pi. 86. 



TRIBE II. MYRMELEONIDES. 



All the tarsi with five joints ; antennae thickest towards the end 

 and composed of a great number of joints ; prothorax short, 

 and in the form of a collar ; wings sloping like a roof; jaws 

 with each two palpi ; metamorphosis complete. 

 Gen. ASCALAPHUS, MYRMELEON. 



