Vol. XXlii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 269 



Vulturops termitorum sp. nov. 



Length, about 1.25 to 1.5 mm. Color pale grayish-whitish, shading to 

 straw-color on head and anal end of abdomen, mandibles and mouth 

 parts more or less of deeper color. The wings, antennae, tibiae and 

 tarsi with a fuscous shade, due to the armature of dusky bristles. Eyes 

 brown. 



Type and cotypes deposited in U. S. N. M. 



Found in covered runways of Hamitermes sp. (det F. Sil- 

 vestri) on outside of post, under house, Piura, Peru, January 

 18, 1911. Nine specimens, one being a larva, one a nymph, 

 and seven adults. An adult was found at Payta, Peru (on the 

 coast), January 3, 1911, indoors, where it had probably issued 

 from termite galleries. Occasional individuals have since been 

 found indoors at Piura, where all houses are badly infested 

 with termites. 



The curious wings of this form, quite unlike any flight- 

 functioning wings known, both in their shape and in their 

 veins, costa and bristle characters, are evidently functional as 

 protectors of the soft globose abdomen. That such is the case 

 is indicated by the erect curved bristles that spring from their 

 upper surface. They have no doubt been developed in accord- 

 ance with the termitophilous life-habit of the insect. This ex- 

 plains also why only the anterior wings are developed, while 

 the posterior pair is atrophied and without any function what- 

 ever. 



It may be said in this connection that search in South Africa 

 for termitophilous Corrodentia should yield important results, 

 since in that region termite evolution reaches its acme and the 

 other forms of life bear much affinity with those of Austra- 

 lasia and South America. 



The drawings were made with camera lucida, by Miss Helen 

 T. Townsend, from mounts. 



ADDITIONS TO THE INSECT COLLECTION OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF 

 NATURAL HISTORY. Mr. C. W. Leng has nut his valuable collection of 

 "long horned" beetles at the disposal of the American Museum of 

 Natural History, New York City, for use in filling gaps in its collec- 

 tions. This means a gift of some 870 specimens covering nearly 300 

 species not hitherto acquired. Mr. John A. 0-rossbeck, who has been 

 specializing for some time on the Geometridne, has given to the 

 museum his entire collection of these moths in addition to the series 

 previously donated. Science, April 26, 1912. 



