588 NEUROPTER^. 



(liers, as they are termed by Smeathinan, with their warlike 

 aspect, act as "sentinels and soldiers, making their appearance 

 Avhen the nest is invaded, attacking the intruders and inciting 

 the laborers to work. The more peaceful and laborious 

 workers are estimated to be one hundred times more numerous 

 than the soldiers." "They collect food, form covered ways, 

 guard the males and females and take care of the eggs and 

 3'oung." (Westwood.) While most of the species burrow in 

 wood, or under ground, others, as in the Termes fatale Linn. 

 (T. bellicosus Smeathman), raise conical hillocks of remarkable 

 strength and firmness, often ten or twelve feet high. After 

 impregnation the females, as in the case of the ants, lose their 

 wings. They are then conducted into the interior of the nest 

 by the Avorkers. Here the body of the female gradually be- 

 comes enormously distended with eggs, being over two inches 

 in length, and it is known to lay 80,000 in the course of a day. 

 The pupa of Termes luci'fxgus, a French species, was found 

 by Latreille in tlie spring, with four white tubercles, or wing 

 pads. Other pupiTe are described and figured by Westwood, 

 Avhich by their long wing-pads, prolonged bej'ond the abdomen, 

 closely resemble the Homopterous adult Cercojiidoe . Fossil 

 Termites occur in the coal formation of C4ermany. 



Embid.e Burmeister. These are small insects, forming a 

 connecting link between the white ants and Psocus ; they are 

 characterized by the linear depressed body, with the head free 

 from the thorax, the wings equal in size, with few veins, and 

 triarticulate tarsi. The larvii2 are found under stones and are 

 protected by a cocoon which they renew at each moulting of 

 the skin. (Gerstaecker.) Embia Sarigni Westwood is found 

 in Egypt. 



A species of Objntlm? the only genus of this family found 

 in North America, is stated by Ilagen to occur in Cuba. 



PsociD^. Leach. These minute insects would be easily mis- 

 taken for Aphides, both the wingless as well as the winged 

 individuals. Their bodies are oval, the head free from the 

 prothorax, Avhich is small and partiall}^ concealed by the wings. 

 The wings are unequal in size, and with few veins, thus deijart- 



