1NSKCTA. 179 



STREPSITERA. 



This class was instituted by Mr KIRBV, one of the most 

 acute and intelligent observers among the English entomo- 

 logists. The elytra (if such they can be called) are cori- 

 aceous, and arise, not from the upper side of the breast, 

 but from the base of the coxae of the anterior pair of 

 legs, consequently they are remote from each other. They 

 first recede from the body, then approach, and last- 

 ly recede again, exhibiting a tortuous course. They do 

 not cover the wings. These last are firmly membranaceous, 

 and their ribs are simple, diverging from the base, and fold- 

 ing longitudinally like a fan. The parts of the mouth are 

 obscure, apparently consisting of two minute, two-jointed 

 palpi and two maxillae, thus intimating that the imago con- 

 sumes but little food, and is short lived. Each of the 

 antennae arises from a common jointed base, and after- 

 wards divides. The eyes are pedunculated, two in number, 

 and compound, with elevated septa, dividing the hexagonal 

 lenses ; the terminal segment of the abdomen ends in a re- 

 flected process. The larva inhabits hymenopterous insects,, 

 in which it changes into a pupa coarctata with the head 

 exserted. 



This order contains only two genera, Sty lops and Zenos. 

 In the former, the upper branches of the antennae are 

 jointed, in the latter they are simple. The Stylops melitta 

 and tenuicornis are natives of Britain. 



Since the institution of this class, doubts have been en- 

 tertained as to the propriety of denominating the twisted 

 processes which arise from the sides of the thorax, elytra. 

 LATREILLE and LAMARK, without indicating much reluc- 

 tance to increase the synonimes of the science, or delicacy 

 towards the naturalist who first instituted the class, have 

 suppressed the term Strepsiptera, the former substituting 



