2 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA. 



which, in some of the tropical species, consist of enor- 

 mous assemblages of individuals. Their nests also attain 

 very large dimensions, and many of them are twenty 

 feet in height, being thus comparable in size to human 

 dwellings. 



So far as the New Zealand species are concerned, these 

 peculiar features of the Termites are only exhibited in 

 a very simple manner ; hence any extended account of 

 the tropical species would be quite out of place in the 

 present work. Those desiring to learn more of the 

 singular instincts, habits, and structure of these remark- 

 able insects are therefore referred to the Cambridge 

 Natural History, vol. v., p. 356, where Dr. Sharp has 

 given us a most interesting and concise account of all 

 the principal facts at present known regarding the 

 various species of Termites. 



Genus CALOTEEMES, Hagen (1853). 



"Head rather small, triangular or rounded; eyes large, ocelli small; 

 antennae as long as the head, 16- to 20-jointed. Prothorax as wide, or 

 nearly as wide, as the head, transverse, truncate or arcuate in front, with 

 the sides and apical edge forming a semicircle. Tarsi with plan tula. 

 Wings with the subcostal nervure narrow, widening out towards the tip, 

 and connected with the costal by five or six nervules crossing the costal area. 



" Soldier* short and stout, with a large cylindrical head, flattened in front 

 and rugged or truncated before the jaws. 



" Distribution. — Warm climates in both hemispheres" (Hutton).* 



CALOTERMES BROUNI. 



Calotermes broiuii, Froggart, Pro. Linn. Soc. of 

 N.S.W., 2nd series, vol. xxi., p. 531, pi. 36, figs. 1, la 

 (1897). C. improbus, Brauer, Eeise der " Novara," 

 Neuroptera, p. 45, not of Hagen. 



" General colour dark reddish-brown, with the wings fuscous and the 

 nervines chocolate-brown. Length to tip of wings, 11 mm. ; to end 

 of the body, G mm. Soldier with the head ochreous, more ferruginous 

 towards the jaws ; antennae bright-yellow, with the apices of the joints 

 pale. The rest dull-white. Length, 6 mm. Worker with the head pale- 

 yellow, the rest dull-white. Length, 4 mm. 



" Locality. — Auckland (Broun) " (Hutton). 



CALOTERMES INSULARIS. 



Termes insularis, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit. Mus., 

 part iii., p. 521 (1853); White, Zool. "Erebus" and 



* Transactions of New Zealand Institute, xxxi., pp. 208-249. This 

 reference holds good in the case of all quotations from Captain Hutton given 

 in this work. 



