426 CLASS vm. 



Family XXXIV. Termitince. Mandibles horny, strong, den- 

 ticulate. Maxillaj furnislied with an appendage or lobe resembling 

 a galea, and with a palp four or five-jointed. Antennae filiform or 

 setaceous, of the size of thorax at least, composed of more than ten 

 joints. Wings deflected or incumbent, with few transverse nervures, 

 sometimes absent; posterior wings not broader than anterior, in 

 many less than anterior. Tarsi with two to four joints. 



Psocus LATH. Antennas setaceous, long, with joints cylindrical, 

 elongate. Maxillary palps four-jointed, labial none. Wings either 

 none or deflected, unequal, posterior less. Tarsi in most with only 

 two, in some with three joints. 



Sp. Psocus pulsatorius, Termes pulsatorium L., DE GEER, Ins. vn. PI. iv. 

 fig. i, SULZER, Kennz. d. Ins. Tab. xxn. fig. 144 ; the wood-louse (houtluis) ; 

 the body pale yellow, with yellow eyes. This insect is commonly found on 

 wood, upon walls, in old papers, &c. ; it has superficially a resemblance to 

 a louse, but runs very rapidly. The Latin specific name is derived from 

 the idea that the ticking in old furniture and door-posts, which superstition 

 often receives as a bad omen, is caused by this insect; on the contrary, 

 they are small beetles which cause the tapping sound. An anatomical 

 investigation of this little animal was published by NITZSCH in GERMAR u. 

 ZINCKEN, Magazin der Entomol. iv. 1821, s. 276 282, Tab. n. 



Other winged species are met with on trees, as Psocus quadripunctutus 

 LATR., PANZER, Deutschl. Ins. Heft 94, Tab. 22, &c. 



Here belong sub-genera Atropos LEACH (Troctes BURM., Atropos 

 and Lachesilla WESTW.), Thyrsophorus BURM., Ccecilius CURTIS. 



Termes L. (in part), LATR. Labium quadrifid, with palps three- 

 jointed. Antennas short, mostly moniliform. Wings narrow, 

 incumbent horizontally on the body, longer than body, deciduous, 

 sometimes none. Tarsi with four joints. 



These insects bear, in different tongues, the name of white ants ; 

 they live, like these, in society together, and in warm countries 

 cause incredible damage. Of the wood- work which they destroy, they 

 leave the surface untouched, so that every thing externally preserves 

 its form, but falls to pieces on the slightest touch. The hardest 

 wood cannot resist these animals; glass, metal, and stones alone do 

 they leave uninjured. Some species live underground, others in 

 trees ; some erect pyramidal mounds above the surface, which in 

 Guinea and other regions of the African coast are raised to the 

 height of twelve feet, and are so stable that they may be mounted 



