June, '02] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 187 



the termite somewhat in color and shape, although it is very 

 much smaller and can hardly be considered mimetic of it. It 

 is quite conspicuous when seen running about in the galleries 

 constructed by the l-'.ut, riuct, which always nest in the ground 

 under stones. It presents a very grotesque appearance, often 

 carrying its abdomen flexed so far dorsally as to be directed 

 straight forwards over the thorax much in the same way as 

 has been figured by Schioedte for Corotom. 



Termitogaster texana sp. nov. (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). Female. Length 

 (with the abdomen held horizontally) 2 mm. Head rounded, much 

 widened behind the eyes, broadly rounded behind. Eyes moderately 

 large, but slightly convex, coarsely facetted, oval, more or less pointed 

 posteriorly. Antennae situated in cavities just above and in front of the 

 eyes, somewhat attenuated towards the apex, n-jointed, not geniculate, 

 first joint very slightly longer than the second and third taken together, 

 second short, hardly more than half as long and considerably narrower 

 than the third, third slightly wider than the first, following joints narrower 

 and very slightly shorter. Front very short. Labrum transverse, rounded 

 anteriorly. Ligula considerably produced, extending to beyond the tips 

 of the mandibles, thick and membranous as in T. insolens Cas. Palpi 3- 

 jointed, more slender than in the male, and with the second joint only half 

 as long as the basal one. Maxillary palpi 4-jointed, first joint very short, 

 second and third equal, the third stouter, fourth one-half as long as the 

 third and very slender. Mandibles rather slender and arcuate at tips. 

 Prothorax considerably wider than the head, slightly wider than long, its 

 angles rounded. Scutellum indistinguishable. Elytra not connate, about 

 as long as the prothorax, with a few short bristles on the lateral margin. 

 Wings well developed. Abdomen capable of being bent up over the 

 elytra and prothorax, greatly swollen, almost circular when seen from 

 above ; the dorsal segments not separated. Abdomen widely margined 

 on the sides, this margin being raised rather sharply and then widely 

 swollen out on the sides so that the swollen part is as wide as the margin 

 when seen from above. The sclerites covering the margins and lateral 

 surfaces of the segments are separated by white membrane. Abdomen 

 everywhere sparsely short, bristly. First four dorsal segments gradually 

 increasing in length, the fifth and sixth much longer. Sixth segment 

 much narrower than the basal portion of the abdomen, appearing almost 

 as an appendage to the circular part. Venter strongly convex and 

 sparely setose, dorsum flat, except for the raised lateral margins. Legs 

 moderately long, the anterior coxa? as long as the femora, and widely- 

 separated at their bases ; middle coxae shorter and but slightly separated, 

 posterior ones transverse, slightly separated. Femora and til-i.t moder- 

 ately stout, tibial spurs extremely small. Tarsi with the first joint long- 

 est, fourth minute on the fore and hind feet. Claws edentate. Entire 



