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Genus XLIX. HEMEKOBIUS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Antenna setaceous, projecting before the head, 

 and longer than the thorax. Mouth with two 

 teeth and four unequal filiform palpi. Stem- 

 mata none. Wings deflected, not folded as 

 in the preceding genus. Abdomen simple. 

 Tarsi with five articulations. 



General Observations, 



The eggs of the Hemerobii are deposited in 

 groups on the leaves of a water-plant, on blades 

 of grass at the edge of the water, or on trees 

 in its neighbourhood. Their appearance is 

 singular, each egg being supported on a slender 

 footstalk, so that it resembles vegetable mould, 

 or a very diminutive fungus. The larvae when 

 hatched are of an oblong oval shape, pointed 

 at the end. They have six feet, and a short 

 pair of curved forceps, with which they seize 

 their prey. They feed almost entirely on Aphi- 

 des, a weak race, without defensive arms, too 

 slow in their motions to escape by flight, and 

 D 2 



