1976] 
Henry — Larval Owlflies 
27 
phines display cylindroid scoli with the secondary abdominal scoli, 
when present, situated beneath the primary extensions. However, 
we may be dealing with specializations of the New World neu- 
roptyngines that do not characterize the subfamily as a whole: were 
one analogously to base his conclusions solely upon New World 
ascalaphines, he might wrongly interpret the extreme specializa- 
tions of the Ululodini (10 scoli, 270 degree jaw trap position, etc.) 
as basic larval features of all split-eyed owlflies. In addition, I have 
seen bizarre unassociated larval ascalaphids from South Africa 
that bear flattened co-planar scoli on the thoracic segments and 
two complete series of non-co-planar cylindroid scoli on the ab- 
dominal segments! 
Spiracle placement also seems to be intimately associated with 
scolus evolution and can be more easily understood in this context. 
Examination of many different ascalaphid forms has convinced 
me that the ancestral condition in the family is lateral placement 
of all abdominal spiracles between a fully-developed dorsal and 
ventral series of scoli. Ventral location of spiracles, as in Ululodes, 
results from retention of the dorsal scoli only — or, as in Asca- 
loptynx and its American relatives, perhaps from dorsal migration 
of the ventral scoli of abdominal segments three through eight to 
positions immediately behind the dorsal ones. Dorsal location 
Figure 10. Ascalaphus libelluloides, lateral aspect of body of mature third instar 
larva. Scvg = vestigial abdominal scoli of ventral series; other labels as in figures 1 
and 5. 
