72, INSECTA. 
Ruaruipia, Lin., Fab. 
Where the tarsi are composed of four joints and the wings are tec- 
tiform. 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 laminz. 
R. ophiosis, 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 alittle Serpent. It is very lively(1). 
Termes, Hemerosius, 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 the thorax almost square or semicircular. 
The body of these Insects is depressed, and their antennx 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 diaphan- 
ous, 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, particularly in the state of larvz, in those 
parts of the world, is but too well known. These larve, the work- 
ing 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 alJ calculation,* which live under cover in 
the ground, trees, and all sort of ligneous articles, such as tables, 
(1) Lat., Ib. p. 203; Fab., Entom. Syst., and Illiger’s edit. cf the Fauna Etrusca 
of Rossi. 
