1980] 
Johnson — Review of Coniopterygidae 
263 
Species are discussed in alphabetical order. 
Under the heading, new material examined, new country and 
state records are indicated by an asterisk. 
CONIOPTERYGIDAE Burmeister, 1839 
Coniopterygidae Burmeister, 1838:771. Type: Coniopteryx Curtis, 
1834. 
Eggs: Light colored, ovoid with micropylar end pointed and 
chorion reticulated. Incubation period varies with temperature. 
Withycombe (1924) reported 6-21 days for incubation. 
Larvae: Spindle-shaped, generally smooth, except for rows of 
small setae on each abdominal segment. Head small, rounded, 
prognathous; slightly retracted into thorax. Eyes formed of 4-5 
facets. Antennae 2 segmented. Labrum projecting, covering the 
mandibles completely in Coniopteryginae and partially in Aleurop- 
teryginae. Mandibles enlarged basally, sharply pointed, slightly 
grooved ventrally. Maxillae pointed, with external barbs. No 
maxillary palpi present. Labrium reduced. 
Thorax large, soft, sharply marked off from abdomen. Three 
segments subequal. Legs well developed, long; tarsi one segmented 
with two simple claws and a well developed empodium. Tibia and 
tarsi not freely articulating. 
Abdomen 10-segmented, tapering, with 10th segment adhesive. 
Notes: Meinander (1972) reported the labial palpi to be 2 
segmented but Withycombe (1923) reported a pair of three seg¬ 
mented labial palpi. 
The larval stages require about 2-4 wk for development. Withy¬ 
combe (1923), working with several species, and Henry (1976) 
working with A. juniperi, reported three larval instars, while Muma 
(1967) working with S. vicina and Quayle (1912) working with C. 
hageni reported 4 larval instars. Meinander (1972) considers the 
family to have 3 larval instars. I have found 3 species in 2 genera of 
the Coniopteryginae to have 4 larval instars. Prior to pupation, the 
larvae build a flat, ovoid cocoon composed of an inner and an outer 
layer of white silk. The silk is produced by modified malpighian 
tubules (Meinander 1972) connected to an eversible anal papilla 
(Withycombe 1924). The cocoon is similar to that produced by some 
spiders and the emerging adult coniopterygids have been mistakenly 
thought to be parasites of spiders. Withycombe (1923) stated that 
