SIALIDAE AND SCORPION-FLIES 



449 



at each end so as to form elongate loops ; the mesenteron is very- 

 complex in character. 



A considerable number of fossil re- 

 mains from both Tertiary and Mesozoic 

 strata are referred to Sialidae ; and a 

 larval form from the red sandstone 

 of Connecticut has been considered by 

 Scudder to be a Sialid, and named 

 Jlormolucoides articulatus, but the cor- 

 rectness of this determination is very 

 doubtful (Fig. 293). These fossils are, 

 however, of special interest as being the 

 most ancient Insect larvae yet brought 

 to light. A still older fossil, from the Car- 

 boniferous strata of Illinois called Miamia 

 ironsoni, is considered by Scudder to have 

 several points of resemblance to Sialidae. 



PiQ. 293. — Mormolucoides 

 articulatus, larva. Trias 

 of Connecticut. (After 

 Scudder.) 



Fam. IX. Panorpidae — Scorpion-flies. 



Kead prolonged to form a deflexed leak, provided with palpi near 



its apex; wings elongate and 

 narrow, shining and destitute of 

 hair, with numerous, slightly 

 divergent veins and moderately 

 numerous transverse veinlets {in 

 one genus the wings are absent). 

 Larvae provided with legs, and 

 -usually with numerous prolegs 

 like the saio -flies : hahits ear- 

 iiivorous. 



The majority of the members 



of this family are very readily 



distinguished by the beak-hke 



front of the head, this being 



chiefly due to enlargement of 



parts of the head itself, and 



in a less degree to prolongation 



of the mouth-parts. The upper (or front) face of the beak is 



formed entirely by the clypeus, the labrum being scarcely 



VOL. V 2 ^ 



Fig. 294. — Panorpa communis, male. 

 Cambridge. 



