FAM. RAPHIDID/E 5 



the cross veins simple. The subcosta reaches the margin before the pterostigma. Radius running 

 parallel with the subcosta to the apex, where it is usually ending in one or more furcations. In the 

 subcostal area one or two cross veins are present in the forewing, one or none in the hindwing. Ptero- 

 stigma more or less coloured, very conspicuous, circumscribed bv a cross vein on each side, and in the 

 genus Raphidia with one or more cross veins in the area. The radial sector furcates verv soon, and the 

 branches are forked, some twice, towards the apical margin. The bases of the radius and the media are 

 fused for some distance, and before the middle of the wing the media furcates; its two branches emit 

 forks to the hind margin, and these forks are again forked as in the radial sector. The cubitus is 

 start ng directly from the base of the. wing and furcates soon after, especially in the hindwing. In the 

 forewing the first cubital branch and the media are fused for a short distance : in the hindwing the first 

 cubital branch is free, but the second fuses with the first anal vein through the middle third of its course. 

 Besides the above mentioned cross veins a few more are present, and thereby are formed cellules, 

 some of which are of specific value. Here shall be mentioned those which are placed between the radius 

 and the radial sector. In insulai'is and Ratscburgi the number of these is three, in the other species of 

 Rapkidia only two. Between the pterostigma and the first branch of the media are found three cellules in 

 the greater part of species, f. inst. in insularis, but in some the number is four. In the forewing is lying a 

 row of cellules under the media and its first branch, the number of which is three in the greater part of 

 species, reckoned from the place, where the media and the first cubital branch are separated: in a few 

 species there are four cellules, and in the genus Inocellia there are two rows. The place and length of the 

 pterostigma in proportion to the below placed cellule is of specific value, likewise the colour of the 

 pterostigma and the number and shape of cross veins in its area, but it may be remembered that the 



nervation of wings is liable to vary, and therefore no hast}' conclusion should be formed from single 



specimens presenting" unusual characters in this respect. 



Legs are of moderate size; tarsi five-jointed; the third cordate and nearly concealing the fourth, 



which is the smallest. Claws with a broad basal part and with a much narrower, strongly curved, 



apical part. 



Abdomen slender in the male, robust in the female; it is formed of nine segments, of which the 



eigth and ninth ventrallv are clefi in the male to admit the insertion of the anal appendages 



(PI. I, Figs Ca, Gb). The penis (PI. I, Figs. Da, D b) is generally narrow at the base, dilated 



in the middle and furcated at the apex. The female is furnished with a very long and flexile ovipositor 



(PI. I, Fig. Ccj. composed of two transversally striated divisions. 



Larva (PI. 2, Fig. 8) long and slender. Head elongate, subquadrate. Antennae three-jointed. 

 The mouth parts (PI. I, Figs. Ea, E b, Ec) nearly as in the imago. Prothorax elongate, subquadrate 

 arid almost of same length as the head. Meso- and metathorax shorter and broader than prothorax. 

 Legs short, tarsi two-jointed and with simple claws. Abdomen long, broadest in the middle. 



Th" Pupa (PI. 2, Fig. 9] has much likeness to the imago, and the sex is indicated. 



Biology. — The imagines and larvae are carnivorous. The larvae live beneath bark of trees, 

 especially coniferous trees, and feed on small insects and larvae frequenting such places. The pupa lives 

 in a cell formed by the larva. After the lapse of some short time it emerges from this cell, and travels 

 until it finds a favourable place, where it remains, till the emergence of the imago takes place. 



Geographical distribution of the species. — The species of Raphidida are found in the 

 pake- and neartic regions, one species however is found in the neotropic region. 



