45O ARTICULATES I INSECTS. 



destitute of sting and piercer. In some the transforma- 

 tion is complete, in others only partial. The families are 

 arranged according to Hagens's Synopsis. 



TERMITID.E, Latr., OR TERMITE FAMILY. This Fam- 

 ily comprises neuroptera which have the body depressed, 

 wings when present longer than the body and laid hori- 

 zontally on the back, head rounded, thorax nearly square 

 or semicircular, abdomen with two small conical points at 

 the extremity, and the legs short. Termites inhabit warm 

 countries mainly, and are known by the name of White 

 Ants. They live in communities, whose numbers are great. 

 They are among the most destructive of all insects, par- 

 ticularly in the larva state, devouring all kinds of wooden 

 furniture, boards, timber, and all the wood-work of houses, 

 excavating galleries in all directions in these materials, 

 leaving only a thin surface-crust or shell untouched, which 

 on the slightest shock crumbles to pieces. A beautiful 

 edifice in the Isle of France was thus entirely destroyed 

 in a few months after its completion. Some species of 

 this family raise their nests or domiciles above the surface 

 of the ground, in the form of pyramids or turrets, some- 

 times surmounted with a solid roof, and are so high 

 ten or twelve feet sometimes and numerous, that they 

 resemble a little village. Some species make their nests 

 in the form of a globular mass upon trees. Having be- 

 come perfect insects, Termites leave their retreats and fly 

 off at night in innumerable numbers. 



PSOCID.E, Latr. This Family includes minute neu- 

 roptera which resemble Aphides. They frequent the 

 trunks of trees, old books and papers, and neglected col- 

 lections of plants or insects. 



The Genus Atropos contains A. divinatorius of authors, 

 the little wingless louse-like insect always seen running 

 over the leaves of dusty books and papers. 



PERLARI.E, Latr., OR PERLA FAMILY. This Family 



