388 M. Lespes on a Nematoid Worm, parasitic upon Termites. 



carina has a sharp edge ; tlie claws are simple, the antennal 

 club is composed of rounded joints, the elytra are of the typical 

 structure, &c. In the latter respect, as well as with regard to 

 the various series of punctures upon head, thorax, and elytra, it 

 resembles the former ; the ]Dunct\u'es of the elytra are, however,, 

 less distinct. Joints 1-6 of the antennre are yellowish, the club 

 being dark and finely pubescent. The maxillary ])alpi have 

 joints 2 and 4 subcylindric, but the intervening one thickened 

 towards the tip. 



I have frequently, in the month of June, taken the pup?e of 

 this species on the banks of the Colombo Lake, and hatched 

 them at home. I found them about 1 inch under ground, and 

 often as far as 1 2 feet from the edge of the water, but still in 

 muddy places. The imago is very active, perhaps more so than 

 any other species of the genus. 



[To be continued.] 



XXX. — Note on a. Nematoid Worm, jjurasitic itpon Termites. 

 By C. Lespes*. 



In the course of my observations on the Termites, I have twice 

 seen numerous nests, which appeared to be in a state of great 

 prosperity, entirely destroyed in a few days. These two societies 

 were established with me in large glass-vessels, but the earth of 

 the nests was too moist ; in this earth I then saw an immense 

 number of little white worms swarming, and by examining them 

 carefully and dissecting the Termites of these societies, I have 

 been enabled to ascertain the history of the parasite. In its 

 characters this Nematoid worm closely approaches Leptodera of 

 Dujardin, but it must form a distinct generic group, as several 

 of its characters differ from those of Leptodera : — its mouth is 

 armed with three tubercles, its neck is short and thick, and 

 lastly it is oviparous, wliilst Leptodera is viviparous. The cha- 

 racters of the generative armature of the male are identical, but 

 the aliform expansions so remarkable in M. Dujardin's worm 

 are wanting in mine. 



Genus Isakis. 



Corpus fusiforme, cxtremitate caudali longe subulata haud alata. 

 Caput corpora continuum, truncatum. Os trilabiatum. Penis vagina 

 spiculisque duobus sequalibus instructus. Foeminaj apertura geni- 

 talis in corporis medio. Ovipcira. 



* Translated from the Annales des Sciences Naturelles, tome v. Zoologie, 

 p. ;W5. 



