NEUROPTETIA. 190 



Mantispa, Illig. — Rhaphidia, Scoj). Lin. — Mantis, Fah. 

 Pall. Oliv., 



Where there are five joints to all the tarsi, and the two first logs are 

 formed like those of a Mantis or adapted for prehension. The an- 

 tennae of these Insects are very short and granose, and their eyes 

 large. The prothorax is very long, and thickened anteriorly, and the 

 wings are tectiform *. 



Rhaphidia, Ltn. Fab., 



Where the tarsi are composed of four joints and the wings are tecti- 

 form. The head is elongated and narroAved posteriorly, the thorax 

 long, narrow, and almost cylindrical. The abdomen of the female 

 terminates by a long external oviduct, formed of two laminae. 



R. opkiosis, L. ; De Geer, Insect,, II, xxv, 4 — 8. Half an 



inch long ; black ; abdomen marked with yellowish streaks ; 



wings transparent, with a black spot near the extremity. In the 



woods. 



The larva lives in the fissures of the bark of trees, and has the 



form of a little Serpent. It is very lively t- 



Termes, Hemerobius, Lin., 



Where all the tarsi are likewise composed of four joints ; but the 

 wings are very long, and laid horizontally on the body ; the head is 

 rounded, and tlie thorax almost square or semicircular. 



The body of these Insects is depressed, and their antennae are short 

 and formed like a chaplet. The mouth is almost similar to that of 

 the Orthoptera, and the labium is quadrifid. They have three ocelli, 

 one of which, on the forehead, is indistinct ; the two others are 

 situated, one on each side, near the inner margin of the ordinary eyes. 

 Their wings are commonly somewhat diaphanous, coloured, fur- 

 nished with extremelv fine and crowded nervures, and not very dis- 

 tinctly reticulated. Their ;.bdomen has two small, conical, biarticu- 

 lated points at the extremity ; the legs are sliort. 



The Termites, pecidiar to the countries situated between the tro- 

 pics, or to those Avhich are adjacent, are known by the name of White 

 Anls, Poux de bois. Carta, &c. The appalling destruction caused 

 by these Insects, particularly in the state of larvae, in those parts of 

 the world, is but too well known. These larvae, the workirig Termites 

 or lahourers, bear a close resemblance to the perfect Insect; but 

 their body is softer and apterous, and their head, which appears pro- 

 portionally larger, is usually destitute of eyes, or has but very small 

 ones. Thev live in society, and form communities so numerous 

 as to defy all calculation, which live under cover in the ground, 

 trees, and all sort of ligneous articles, such as tables, chairs, 



* Lat., Gen. Cruet, et Insect., Ill, p. 93. 



t Lat., lb., p. 203 ; Fab., Entom. Syst., and Illiger's edit, of the Fauna Etrusca 

 of Rossi. 



