70 



members of the genus Mynneleoii that have been found to make 

 these pitfalls. 



4. ASCALAPIIID^. 



It is most unfortunate that such handsome insects as the Ascala 

 phidcv. are unrepresented with us, especially as, again, one of the 

 finest species, Ascalaphiis lougicornis (PI. V, fig. 4), extends its 

 range as far north as Paris. They are predaceous insects, catching 

 their prey much as the dragonflies do. In fact, if it were not for 

 the antennae they might well be taken for members of the Odonata. 

 Their life-history should repay further study. The larvae are much 

 like those of the ant-lions, but they do not walk backwards as do 

 those of the latter, nor do they make pitfalls ; instead, they lurk 

 under stones and so forth, waiting for their prey. There is a con- 

 siderable number of genera and species, and many of the imagines 

 have finely coloured wings with very conspicuous markings. The 

 family has recently been monographed by Dr. H. W. Van der Weele. 



5. Nemopterid^e. 



Like the last two families the Nemoptevid?e (PI. VI, fig. 5) have 

 no British representatives, nor, indeed, do they extend into Central 

 Europe, five species only belonging to the European fauna at all. 

 According to the monograph of the family published by Navas only 

 last )ear, there are in all but forty-four species distributed amongst 

 twelve genera. So lar as yet ascertained these insects are almost 

 entirely confined to the Old World, there being besides one species 

 in South America and three in Australia. At present little seems to 

 be known of the life-history of the Ne7nopteiidiC. 'I'heir great pecu- 

 liarity consists in the strange modification of the hind-wings, which 

 resemble long tails and probably act as balancer>. The imagines 

 flit gracefully round bushes in open spots. 



6. Mantispiu^. 



Yet one more family, the Mantispidae, has no British representa- 

 tive. The members of it are more at home in warmer climates, 

 although a few species are found in the south of Europe, one of them 

 being Alaiitispa styriaca (PI. VI, fig. 6). The great peculiarity of 

 the family is the enormous development of the forelegs, which 

 become a kind of trap for catching prey. They much resemble the 

 forelegs of certain Orthoptera, the praying-insects or mantids ; so it 

 is not surprising that these insects were once classed with the Orthop- 

 tera. The eggs of J/, styriaca, whose life-cjcle has been worked out 

 by Brauer, are at the end of slender stalks, as is the case with the 

 well-known eggs of the species of Chrysopa. The larva emerges in 

 the autumn, and then hibernates for <]uite half a year without food. 



