i66 



INSECT TRANSFORMATION 



the Termitoxeniidae 1 which live as " guests " in the nests of 

 some species of termites (" white ants ") inhabiting Africa and 

 Southern Asia (Fig. 95). Wings are recognizable as small 

 strap-like vestiges on the mesothorax ; these probably serve 

 to attach the curious insects to their termite-hosts. The 

 abdomen, with its thin white cuticle has the hinder-end directed 

 forwards beneath the thorax, and becomes distended with 

 the food which is sucked from the bodies of the termites pierced 

 by the suctorial mouth-organs of the Termitoxeniae which 

 behave as parasites in the habitations that shelter them. The 

 development of these creatures is absolutely exceptional among 



FIG. 95. 



a, Termitoxenia Heimi, female from nest of Termes obesus, S. Africa (side view), x 25. 



b, egg of Termitoxenia Havilandi, from nest of Termes latericius, S. Africa. x 35. 

 After Wasmann, Zeitsch. f. wissetisch. Zool. LXVII. 



insects. They are hermaphrodite, the testes developing first 

 the ovaries, each consisting only of a single ovarian tube 

 later. The egg (b) is of relatively enormous size, and in the 

 genus Termitoxenia gives rise after hatching to an adult, 

 which except for its slender abdomen resembles the parent. 

 In Termitomyia the egg is hatched within the parent's body 

 and the young insect is born in the adult condition. Thus, the 

 typical transformation is altogether wanting. From the struc- 

 ture of the feelers, the Termitoxeniidae belong to the muscoid 



1 E. Wasmann : " Termitoxenia ein neues fltigelloses physogastres 

 Dipterengenus aus Termitennestern ". Zeitsch. /. wissensch. Zool., LXVII. 

 1901. 



