NEUROPTERA. 
179 
Living specimens of these insects have been sent to Aus¬ 
tralia by our government in the hope of introducing the 
species there, and thus doing something towards repaying 
the debt that we owe that country for the Australian Lady- 
bug, which has rendered us great service in the destruction 
of the Cottony-cushion Scale in California. 
The family is represented by two genera, Raphidia (Ra- 
phid'i-a) and Inocellia (In-o-cel'li-a). In the former there 
are three simple eyes on the top of the head between the 
compound eyes; in the latter these ocelli are wanting. 
Family MANTISPID.E (Man-tis'pi-dae).- 
The Mantis-like Nearoptera. 
The members of this family are even stranger in appear, 
ance than the Raphidians. Here, as in that family, the 
prothorax is greatly elongated ; but the members of this 
family can be easily recognized by their remarkable fore 
legs, which are greatly enlarged and resemble those of the 
Praying Mantes in form (Fig. 
218). These legs are fitted for 
seizing prey; and, in order 
that they may reach farther 
forward, they are joined to 
the front end of the long pro¬ 
thorax. In the adult state 
these insects are predaceous; 
while the larvse, SO fai as is p x p # 2 i8.— Mantispa . In the specimen 
known, are parasitic in tile somewhat in order to show the form 
egg-sacs of spiders. of the parts ' 
Five species of the family are known from the United 
States; four of these belong to the genus Mantispa (Man- 
tis'pa) and one to Symphasis (Sym'pha-sis). 
