LIBRARY

NEUROPTERA 889
have an expanse of 7 in. The larvre of the genera Myrmeleon and Callistoleon
make cone-shaped pits in the sand.
The commonest South African genus is Pal pares Rambur which includes very
handsome species of large size. P. voeltzkowi Kolbe, one of the largest members
of the order, has a body length of 63 mm. and a wing expanse of 157 mm.
Family STILBOPTERYGIDlE Tillyard 1926 (Stil-bop-te-ryg'i-rue, from the
Greek crn'7l.{3eiv, shine, + 7r'repa, wings; referring to the shining wings).
Shiny Wings.
The adults are large, high, swift fliers, and on the wing resemble dragonflies
except that they fly only straight ahead and are not versatile in backing up,
darting, and dodging like the latter. They have short, knobbed antennre, very
large eyes, and shining wings and abdomen. They fly at dusk. The large black
spiny larvre live in vegetable refuse and prey upon small living insects and other
animals.
The family is represented in Australia by the genus Stilbopteryx Newman with
three species and in South America by Albardia Weele.
Family ASCALAPHIDlE Schneider 1845 (As'ca-Iaph'i-dre, from the Greek
CurKa"Aacpos, an owl; because of the nocturnal habits of some species?).
German, Schmetterlingshaften. French, Ascalaphides. Ascalaphus Flies,
Owl Flies.
In the adults the heads are covered with long fine hairs which are shorter on
the rest of the body. The antenn