252 SiALiDiE. INSECTS. Tbichoptera. 
oval, and of close-spun silk. The species are from 
Panorpa, four species. Our figure shows the Pan- 
three to four lines in expanse. 
orpa communis or common Scorpion-fly (Plate 6, 
In the family Sialidm, which includes Raphidia, Dr. 
fig. 7). 
Hagen quotes five species as indigenous to our island, 
The Scorpion-fly can lord it over the Dragon-fly. 
and characterizes the family as having the wings 
Lyonet mentions that he saw a scorpion-fly attack a 
deflexed; the subcosta unites with the costa before the 
dragon-fly ten times larger than itself. The Panorpa 
apex of the wing; the labial palpi are three-jointed; 
brought him to the ground, pierced him repeatedly with 
the anal area is present, though in Raphidia it is very 
his proboscis; and but for the eagerness of the naturalist 
small. The larva has the mouth formed for biting, 
who parted them, there was no doubt but that the 
and is always carnivorous. 
Scorpion-% would have destroyed the Libellula. In 
this family comes the strange genus Nemoptera, one 
Family — SIALID^®. 
of the species of which is figured on Plate 6, fig. 6, 
Nemoptera filipennis ; the figure, as in several other 
The Sialis lutarim is a dingy, blackish insect, very 
instances, is copied from one of Mr. AVestwood’s. In 
common on the banks of ponds and streams. They 
this family, too, comes the genus Bittacus, with its long 
deposit their eggs in patches on the rushes. The flies 
legs and very great raptorial tarsi. These insects seize 
must afford great store of food to many of the smaller 
and hold other insects with their great claws. 
fresh- water fish. Anglers who use artificial flies in 
pursuing their sport, frequently imitate the general 
Family— MANTISPIDAl. 
appearance and form of the Sialis. Its brownish wings 
have a multiplicity of veins ; the fore-wings are yellow- 
A family with raptorial fore legs, looking like a 
ish at the base. 
miniature Mantis. 
Raphidia, four species. In this family comes the 
On lately opening a nest of the curious Wasp, My- 
great long-jawed Corydalis cornuta. Our figure is 
rapetra scutellaris, from Monte Video, I was much 
that of Raphidia ophiopsis var notata (Plate 6, fig. 4). 
delighted to get a considerable number of a curious 
In the family Panorpidce, Dr. Hagen quotes five species 
Mantispa alive. In the former nest which I had 
as British. The family is thus characterized : — The 
described, wings of this species, which I alluded to as 
wings are horizontal, narrow ; the subcosta unites with 
Hemerohius, occurred. These Mantispae jerked and 
the costa before the tip of the wings, the mouth is pro- 
jumped about in the strangest manner ; when they fell 
longed like a beak, the labial palpi are two-jointed; 
on their backs they righted themselves most curiously. 
the anal area is wanting. The larva lives underground, 
They eagerly ate any small insects offered to them. 
and feeds on plants ; the pupa is quiescent, and is with- 
They were evidently parasitic in the nest, as they 
out a proper cocoon. In the genus Boreus the wings 
occurred in great numbers. I described this insect at 
are wanting; in Panorpa the}'' are present. 
a meeting of the Entomological Society of London, 
Boreus hyemalis, is sometimes found on snow. 
December 2, 1861. 
Sub-order — TRICHOPTERA {Gaddis-ioorm flies). 
This group of insects was regarded by Kirby as 
end, and is formed of a silk spun from the anus of the 
forming a distinct order from the Neuroptera, to 
larva. Degeer has described one of these grates. It 
which he gave the name of Trichoptera, or hairy wings, 
is formed by a small, thickisb, circular lamina of a 
from the hairs with which they are usually covered. 
dark-coloured silk, which becomes hard, and exactly 
Westwood and other authors regard them also as 
fits the end of the case, being fixed a little within its 
distinct from the Neuroptera ; we follow Dr. Hagen 
margin. It is pierced all over with holes, arranged in 
in considering them merely as a subdivision of that 
concentric circles, and separated by ridges which run 
order. 
from the centre to the circumference, somewhat like 
Trichoptera in their early stages are aquatic, and 
the spokes of a wheel. Although for a considerable 
inhabit cases which are constructed of various mate- 
time quiescent in their pupa state, about the close of 
rials, according to the species or genus of the order. 
it they can move ; they are furnished with an appa- 
Some employ grains of variously coloured sand to 
ratus to pierce through the grating which imprisons 
cover these cases ; others use small fresh-water shells, 
them, otherwise they must perish in the water. The 
and thus carry about with them a little museum of the 
head of the pupa is furnished in front with two hooks ; 
coverings of aquatic mollusca of different kinds ; others 
with these, before their last change, they make an 
form the outside lining of their case with small frag- 
opening in the grate. Having escaped from this, the 
ments of branches or reeds. These cases are usually 
pupa mounts in the water to the surface, and emerges 
open at the ends. In their pupa state they become 
from it. She then creeps up some plant, her antennae 
torpid ; but before becoming pupae, the larvae, to keep 
and legs each inclosed in a separate envelope ; the 
out their enemies, and at the same time to allow free 
perfect insect then gradually bursts from her case. 
ingress to water, so necessary for their very existence, 
Plate 6, fig. 10, shows one of the Trichoptera with 
form a grate across the mouth of the case. This port- 
the Caddis- worm. 
cullis, as it has been well called, is spun across each 
In North America, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, 
. 
