146 
NEUROPTERA. 
they haunt shady places among bushes and under trees and attack com¬ 
paratively large insects. These insects are uncommon and little is rec¬ 
orded about them. A pretty species marked with blue is common on 
the Western Ghauts in the rains, and a brown species is found in the 
Khasi Hills. Hardwicke describes a species from Nepal, figures of which 
are reproduced here. (Trans. Linn. Soc., XLV, p. 132.) It is common in 
the E. Himalayas, and has a resemblance to a large Xchneumonid. Bitiacus 
latipennis Gerst. is described from Darjeeling (M. T. Vorpomn. XYI, p. 
20, 1885). Probably others will be found when the family comes to be 
observed, and it will be possible to see how far their life history agrees with 
that outlined above. 
Hemerobiid^:. 
Wings nearly equal in size , many-veined and held at an angle over the 
abdomen. The hind wing not folded. Antennoe well developed. 
Tarsi five-jointed. Larva with suctorial mandibles , 
pupa in a cocoon of silk. 
This is a miscellaneous assemblage of easily recognised insects, united 
by the life history and larval trophi. The adult's differ greatly in appear¬ 
ance, but form a distinct family. It is possible that the family will be 
confused with the Sialidw, unless the student is familiar with the latter. 
The essential differentiating character is that in Sialidw the wings are 
not densely reticulate, whereas they are so in Hemerobiidce (except 
Coniopteryx). 
Asa rule, the different forms of Hemerobiidoe are so distinct that they 
can be recognised at sight, but the above is apparently the only true struc¬ 
tural distinctive character in the imago. 
As the habits of the seven sub-families are distinct, we propose to 
discuss each in turn. 
Myrmeleonince. Short knobbed antennae. 
Ascalaphince. Long ,, ,, 
Nemopterince. Hind wings almost linear. 
Mantispince. Forelegs raptorial. 
Hem&robiince. Antennae moniliform. 
Chrysopince. ,,. setaceous. 
Coniopterygince. Minute. Wings powderv. 
