306 EENEST WARREN. 



wander in searcli of a mate is the main cause of the gradual 

 dispersal of the species^ and it may be added, that the powerful 

 pincer-like mandibles would certainly be of use as defensive 

 organs in the dangerous expedient of wandering outside 

 the nest. 



Behavioue of Termites towards Paracorotoca. — What- 

 ever faults Paracorotoca may have as a guest — and the 

 great size of the muscular jaws perhaps indicates an occasional 

 meal of an immature termite — it is perfectly clear that its 

 presence is not unwelcome to the host. I have never seen 

 the worker or soldier termites exhibit the slightest attempt to 

 attack either the larvge or the adult beetles. In the confusion 

 resulting from opening a nest I have sometimes seen workers 

 attack each other, but the beetles are not iiiterfei^ed with. 



The body of 'Paracorotoca bears certain chai*acteristic 

 swellings, and, as in other cases, it is not clear whether the 

 blood-fluids ooze out through the thin cuticle of these out- 

 growths and are sucked up by the termites, or whether a 

 volatile scent is exuded which is agreeable to the termites. 



Among termitophilous creatures generally there is a 

 marked tendency for the production of swellings from the 

 body, serving as exudatory organs. These are very con- 

 spicuously seen in such different insects as the following : 

 the termitophilous larva of a Tineid moth, described by 

 Tragardh ; the larva^ of a large dipteron, sent to me by 

 Mr. Claude Fuller and at present undescribed; the adult 

 Paracorotoca and Spirachtha; the supposed larva of 

 Paracorotoca; the larva of Termitomimus, and in a 

 lesser degree the adult. Thus these closely similar sti'uc- 

 tures have arisen independently of one another in response to 

 a similar need, i.e. the necessity for the guests to make 

 themselves agreeable to their host. 



Distribution. — The largest number of adult beetles ever 

 found in a single nest was five. This nest was a compara- 

 tively small one, measuring about 18 in. in diameter. On 

 one occasion, in a nest measuring about 82 in. in diameter, 

 ' In my paper already cited an outline figure of the larva is given. 



