KEVISION OF NEARCTIC TERMITES. 117 



history of a'nematode parasite (Diplogaster aerivora Cobb) which occurs 

 in the head of a species of Reticulitermes at Manhattan, Kansas. The 

 nematode parasite Diplogaster aerivora Cobb was also introduced into 

 this termite by the same workers. 



Dm-ing July, August, and September, 1918, nematodes were found 

 to be common in artificial colonies of Reticulitermes Jlavij^es collected 

 in Vii'ginia. Dr. iS^. A. Cobb determined these nemas as RJiahditis 

 janeti Lacazi Duthier, Diplogaster aerivora Cobb ? or a closely related 

 form, and an undetermined species, of which only a very young larva 

 has been seen. 



Dr. Cobb writes, in a letter dated August 7, that — 



both the Rhahdilis and the Diplogaster occur in the insect. * * * Both occur in 

 the adult stage in sick and dead insects. 



Both occur in a larval condition in the head of active, normal-looking insects. 

 What part of the head I have not determined. 



The literature of the subject you will find in the following papers: 



1. Janet, "Etudes sur les fourmis," Mem. de la Soc. Zool. de France, 1894. 



2. de Man, Extrait des Mem. de la Soc. Zool. de France. 1. "Sur la Rhabditis 

 Janeti Lac. Duth." 1894? 2. "Note Supplementaire Sur la Rhabditis Janeti Lac. 

 Duth., 1894. 



3. Merrill, Ford and Cobb, Joiirnal of Agricultural Research, Vol. VI, No. 3. 



In a letter dated August 24, Dr. Cobb wrote that — 



the second nest of white ants contained in addition to the species already noted two 

 additional nemas : 



1. Rhabditis dolickura Schneider. 



2. Diplogaster attenuatus u. sp. 



This latter has been already well figured by Looss in his great work on the hookworm, 

 but he did not attempt to identify it. 



Both these species are probably very common feeders on decaying organic matter 

 in this country, though previously they have not been observed, except that I have a 

 MS. record of Rhabditis dolichura from the excreta of dogs. There is, however, no 

 published record of either of these species occurring in America. R. dolichura is 

 evidently common in Europe. D. attenuatus was found by Looss in Egj'-pt. 



Most of our native termites are infested externally with mites. 

 These mites found with termites were identified by N. Banks, who 

 states that, as usual with mites on insects, they are mostly immature. 



A large greyish-brown mite found with Termopsis angusticollis, at 

 Victoria, British Columbia, is a species in the genus Parasitus. An- 

 other mite found with this termite, at Portland, Oregon, is a "hypo- 

 pus" or migratorial nymphal stage of a Tyroglyphid. 



On Reticulitermes fiavipes may be found grey mites, attached to 

 the border of the head of workers, or attached side-ways between the 

 workers' legs on the ventral prothorax. In the vicinity of Wash- 

 ington, District of Columbia, these mites include a Parasitid and a 

 species in a genus near Myrmonyssus. 



A species of mite in the AntennomopJiorini was found with Prorhino- 

 termes simplex at Miami Beach, Florida. 



