412 INSECTA. 



are always corneous and strong. The inferior wings are nearly as large as the 

 superior ones, and without folds, or smaller. 



MANTISPA, Illiger, 



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

 like those of a Mantis or adapted for prehension. The antennae 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, Linnceus, Fabricius, 



Where the tarsi are composed of four joints and the wings are tectiform. The 

 head is elongated and narrowed posteriorly, the thorax long, narrow, and 

 almost cylindrical. The abdomen of the female terminates by a long external 

 oviduct, formed of two laminae. 



TERMES, HKMEROBIUS, Linnceus, 



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 the 

 thorax almost square or semicircular. 



The body of these insects is depressed, and their antenna? 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 fore- 

 head, is indistinct; the 

 two others are situated, 

 one on each side, near the 

 inner margin of the ordi- 

 Termites, the natural size, and magnified. nary eyes. Their wings 



are commonly somewhat diaphanous, coloured, furnished with extremely fine 

 and crowded nervures, and not very distinctly reticulated. Their abdomen has 

 two small, conical, biarticulated points at the extremity ; the legs are short. 



The Termites, peculiar to the countries situated between the tropics, or to 

 those which are adjacent, are known by the name of White Ants, Poux de 

 bois, Caria, &c. The appalling destruction caused by these insects, particu- 

 larly in the state of larvae, in those parts of the world, is but too well known. 

 These larvae, the vtorking Termites or labourers, bear a close resemblance to 

 the perfect insect ; but their body is softer and apterous, and their head, which 

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

 ones. They live in society, and form communities, so numerous as to defy all 

 calculation, which live under cover in the ground, trees, and ah* sort of ligneous 

 articles, such as tables, chairs, furniture of all kinds, and the planks, timbers, 

 &c. &c. which form parts of houses. There they excavate galleries, which 



