Vol. xxiii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 269 
Vulturops termitorum sp. nov. 
Length, about 1.25 to 1.5 mm. Color pale grayish-whitish, shading to 
straw-color on head and anal end of abdomen, mandibles and mouth 
parts more or less of deeper color. The wings, antennae, tibiae and 
pe with a fuscous shade, due to the armature of dusky bristles. Eyes 
rown. 
Type and cotypes deposited in U. S. N. M. 
Found in covered runways of Hamitermes sp. (det F. Sil- 
vestri) on outside of post, under house, Piura, Peru, January 
18, 1911. Nine specimens, one being a larva, one a nymph, 
and seven adults. An adult was found at Payta, Peru (on the 
coast), January 3, 1911, indoors, where it had probably issued 
from termite galleries. Occasional individuals have since been 
found indoors at Piura, where all houses are badly infested 
with termites. 
The curious wings of this form, quite unlike any flight- 
functioning wings known, both in their shape and in their 
veins, costa and bristle characters, are evidently functional as 
protectors of the soft globose abdomen. That such is the case 
is indicated by the erect curved bristles that spring from their 
upper surface. They have no doubt been developed in accord- 
ance with the termitophilous life-habit of the insect. This ex- 
plains also why only the anterior wings are developed, while 
the posterior pair is atrophied and without any function what- 
ever. 
It may be said in this connection that search in South Africa 
for termitophilous Corrodentia should yield important results, 
since in that region termite evolution reaches its acme and the 
other forms of life bear much affinity with those of Austra- 
lasia and South America. 
The drawings were made with camera lucida, by Miss Helen 
T. Townsend, from mounts. 
~<]> 
AppITIoNs To THE INSECT COLLECTION OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF 
Natura, History—Mr. C. W. Leng has put his valuable collection of 
“long horned” beetles at the disposal of the American Museum of 
Natural History, New York City, for use in filling gaps in its collec- 
tions. This means a gift of some 870 specimens covering nearly 300 
species not hitherto acquired. Mr. John A. Grossbeck, who has been 
specializing for some time on the Geometride, has given to the 
museum his entire collection of these moths in addition to the series 
previously donated.—Science, April 26, 1912. 
