PARACOROTOCA AKEHMANl (wAHREN). 301 



although in tlie absence of developmental stages and pupa? 

 these determinations lack absolute certainty. I feel some 

 confidence in the matter, however, from the fact that only 

 these two termitophilous Staphylinid larv^ have been found, 

 although hundreds of Eutermes nests have been examined, 

 and it might be reasonably expected that if they were the 

 larva3 of other termitophilous beetles the adults would also 

 have been discovered. The larv^ are of appropriate sizes, 

 and in the case of the supposed Paracorotoca larva there 

 is a certain resemblance to a somewhat obscure figure by 

 Schiodte of the reputed larva of Corotoca m el ant ho. 



The Paracorotoca larva is exceedingly delicate, and 

 soon dies under all the various artificial conditions that have 

 been tried. It must be mentioned that the larva is very much 

 more abundant than the adult beetle. Possibly the presence 

 of quiescent pupa^ is misunderstood by the termites, and they 

 may interfere with them injuriously. 



Habits. — From the nature of the case it- has unfortunately 

 not been possible to ascertain many details as to the mutual 

 relationships between the termitophile and the termites. 



When the living beetle is placed in a tube with some pieces 

 of nest-material and a number of workers and soldiers, no 

 obvious attention or solicitude on the part of the termites is 

 noticed, but the presence of light and the untoward surround- 

 ings may sufficiently account for the apparent indifference. 



A very interesting observation, however, has been made by 

 Dr. Akerman, and subsequently both Mr. Boyce and I have 

 witnessed similar occurrences. When termites are in any way 

 alarmed, as by opening the nest or by sudden exposure to 

 light, they vibrate their bodies in a very characteristic 

 manner, and the beetle acts in a similar way. It is extremely 

 doubtful if this vibration of the body is a common habit 

 among free-living Staphylinids, and almost certainly it 

 has been in some way acquired by the beetle through its 

 association with the termites. It is not easy to see that the 

 habit of vibrating the body can be of any actual utility to 

 the termite, although possibly it may frighten small enemies ; 



