TERMITID^. 587 



iug the same idea in different groups, here leaps over as it 

 were whole groups of insects, as if by prophecy pointing out 

 the advent of still more perfect forms and higher intelligences. 

 Geology teaches ns that the white ant and other Nenroptera 

 preceded in time, as they do in structure, their higher ana- 

 logues. 



The genus Ccdotermes differs from Termes in its small head, 

 the large, transverse, oblong prothorax, the veined costal area, 

 and in the tarsi being furnished with an apical plantula (or 

 foot-pad situated between the claws). (7. castaneus Burmeis- 

 ter is almost cosmopolitan, occurring in AVestern and tropical 

 America. In Termopsis the head is large, the ocelli are ab- 

 sent, and the prothorax is small, otherwise it agrees with Calo- 

 termes. T. anguf^tlcoUis Linn, is found in the Pacific States. 

 The type of the family, Termes, has a large rounded head, 

 with two ocelli, and a small heart-sha])ed prothorax ; the costal 

 area is free, while the foot-pad (plantula) is absent. Our com- 

 mon Avhite ant, Termes flavipes Kollar is found from INIassachu- 

 setts southward, under stones, sticks and in stumps. It is of 

 a chestnut color, head and prothorax black brown, with brown- 

 ish antennie ringed with a jjaler hue, with white, very delicate 

 wings, and the mouth, tibice and tarsi are j'ellow. The work- 

 ers are white, with honey yellow heads. The white ants of 

 Africa live together like ants in colonies of vast extent. 

 The males and females are winged and closely resemble 

 each other as usual. There are two wingless forms ; the 

 soldiers, which have large square heads, and long powerful 

 mandibles, with a large prothorax, and the icoHiers wliich 

 have small rounded heads and minute, nearly obsolete mandi- 

 bles. There also occur among the workers certain individuals 

 (Nasuti) which have the front of the head prolonged into a 

 horn. All these Avingless individuals are asexual, the organs 

 of reproduction being undeveloped. Tiiey have been consid- 

 ered to be larvfE by eminent authorities, but they are found in 

 the nest in abundance when the males and females have arrived 

 at maturit3^ Thej^ must, therefore, be considered like the 

 workers among bees and ants, as individuals specialized, or set 

 apart for the performance of certain duties involving the in- 

 crease and preservation of the entire colony. Thus the sol- 



