340 REPORT UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
visible from above. The scutum is, however, much larger than in any 
other genera of Neuroptera (restricted), being only cleft on the posterior 
one -fifth. The scutellum is very short and broad; one-fourth as long as 
broad, with a linear, depressed, acute apex. The postscutellum is not 
visible from above, and is only seen by examining the posterior aspect 
of the segment in dissected specimens. 
The mctanotum ( Ascalaphus ). (PI. LVI, fig. 3.) Much smaller than the 
mesonotum. The pnescutum is unusually largo, with a swollen cordate 
portion. The scutum is eutirely divided, the two halves widely sepa- 
rated, the pnescutum and scutellum meeting, the point of juncture being 
very wide. 
Myrmeleon. (PI. LIV, fig. 3.) The praescutum is large, excavated in 
front, though not so large as in Polystoechotes ; it is wider than the 
scutellum. The scutum is entirely divided into halves, so that the pne- 
scutum and scutellum touch each other. The scutellum is very full and 
rounded behind, as long as broad, not being triangular; the side pieces 
are large, seen from above. 
Polystoechotes. (PI. LVI, fig. 10.) Praescutum! The scutum is com- 
pletely divided by the scutellum, which is acutely triangular. Postscu- 
tellum 1 
Mantispa. (PI. LY, fig. 3.) The pnescutum obsolete, not visible from 
above. The scutum is larger than usual, but only cleft on the posterior 
fourth o t its length ; the scutellum is short, acutely triangular in front, 
but very broad, and the sides in front are sinuous; it is smaller and nar- 
rower than in the mesonotum. The postscutellum is not visible unless the 
specimen is dissected, when it is seen to form the back of the segment. 
Pleurum. 
Propleurum ( Ascalaphus ). The pleurum is hard to describe from a 
single specimen, but the sclerites are much rounded, full, and swollen; 
the mesothorax is nearly one-third longer and thicker than the meta- 
thorax, while the thorax as a whole is spherical and much consolidated. 
Myrmeleon. (PI. LIY, fig. 7.) The episternum is nearly twice as large 
as the epimerum. The coxae are very large and long. 
Polystoechotes. Tho episternum is not so much larger than the epime- 
rum as in Myrmeleon, but the coxae are longer and slenderer. 
Mantispa. The pleurites are very small; the episternum- is very 
small, irregularly oblong ; the epimerum is subdivided, small, narrow, 
but a little more regular and larger than the episternum. Coxae very 
large and long; the trochantine submembranous. 
Mesopleurum ( Ascalaphus ?). 
Myrmeleon. (PI. LIY, fig. 8.) The flanks are very broad and short, 
as a whole. The suprasternite present, very short and broad, equilat- i 
orally triangular in outline. The episternum is remarkably short and 
broad, triangular, being two-thirds shorter than in Polystoechotes. The 
