MANTIS PID AE OF JAPAN. 



231 



It seems to me that Enderlein's classification of the genus into 

 subgenera based on a certain point of the wing venation, is too arbi- 

 trary to be retained. The venation is subject to individual variations 

 to such an extent that it can scarcely be utilized with advantage for 

 the purpose. 



3- Mantispa japonica MacLachlan. 



Mantispa japonica, MacLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., pt. ii, 

 p. 178 (1875); Miyake, Journ. Coll. Agr. Tokyo, ii, p. 220, 

 pi. xii, figs. 5, 5a, 5b, I (1910) ; Okamoto, Zool. Anz, xxxvii, 

 p. 296 (191 1). 



Mantispa diminnta, Matsumura, Syst. Ent. (Konchü-bunruigaku), 

 i, p. 169 (1907); Mantispa (Mantispilla) diminnta Mats., 

 Okamoto, Zool. Anz., xxxvii, p. 296 (191 1). 



I hold that Mantispa diminnta of Matsumura is simply a varia- 

 tional form of Mantispa japonica MacLachlan, which is very variable 

 in ncuration as well as in the dimensions of body. The smallest and 

 largest individuals differ in dimensions to a rather remarkable 

 extent, so that one might easily be misled to take the extremes for 

 specifically distinct. 



Here is a table showing variations in the dimen ions of parts and 

 in the neuration of fore-wing. 



Speci- 

 men 



Locality. 



Sex. 



Length 

 of body 



Length 

 of fore- 

 wing 



Width 

 of fore- 

 wing 



Length 

 of hind 

 wing 



Length 

 of pro- 

 thorax. 



Number of veins 

 arising from 1st 

 radial cell of fore- 

 wing 



A 



Prov. 

 Iwashiro. 





8 mm. 



10 m m . 



2.6 m m 



9111m. 



4111 m 



Single 



B 



Tokyo 





10 „ 



»3 » 



3 



»! 



4 » 



Two 



C 







•5 » 



14 - 



4 



12 „ 



45 » 



Single 



D 







14 



'35« 



3-5 „ 



"5 » 



4 





E 



Kiushiu 





11 » 



12.5,, 



3 



10.5 „ 



4 . 



Two 



