NEUROPTERA. 



579 



tbe eyes lar^^e, the protliorax verylon^, and the wings roof-iike. Exotic species, [recently nionoi^raphed by Erich- 

 son, of g-reat interest from their apparent relationship with the order Urthuptcra]. 



Rajjitidia, Linn., has 4-jointed tarsi, the wings roof-like, the head elongated and narrowed behind, protliorax 

 b)ng, narrow, and subcylindric, and the abdomen of the females terminated by a long, exserted ovipositor, formed 

 nf two valves. R. ophiopsis, [the Snake-necked Fly, of rare occurrence in this country. See the monograph of 

 SchLunmel]. The larva lives in the fissures of the bark of trees, and has the form of a small snake : it is very 

 active. 



Termes, Linn. {II erne roll us, Linn, [the winged males]), has also 4-jointed tarsi, but the wings are carried hori- 

 zontally on tlie body, and very luiii.- ; tlie head rounded, and the prothorax short and square. The body is de- 

 pressed, witb theautenn;t sliort ; the mouth very similar to that of the (Jrthoptera, with a four-cleft lower lip ; 



three ocelli, one rather indistinct; the wings generally but slightly 

 transparent, coloured, with tlie nervurus not forming a close net- 



/,/ 1 ^ I work, and the le^s short. 



fif^^^^B*"-"^ ^^M '^^^^ Termites peculiar to the tropical and adjacent countries, are 



, ^. Wv w _— -3s-.^ known under the name of White Ants, and commit most extraor- 



dinary ravages, especially in the larva state, in which they are called 

 Workers, and are like the perfect insect, but with the body softer and 

 without wings, and the head generally larger, and destitute of eye.s, or 

 nearly so. They are united into colonies of incalculable numbers, 

 i \ ^ ^ "'"^ ^"*^ ^'^'^ concealed in the interior of the earth, trees, and other 



wooden matters, such as furiuture, shelves, &c., in which they form 

 '^ '■" "'^^ '^^^'' ' "''"-'^- -• ■ ^ '"■■''■ g-;dleries, forming routes conducting to the centre of their nests, so 



that these objects, nf which the outer surface is [with surprising instinct] left untouched, fall to pieces on the 

 shghtest tuiich. The nests of some species are external, but without any evident exit. Sometimes they are elevated 



L- of ore 



eat hi.'i;j;ht above tlie surface, like pyramids, and are sometimes surrounded by a solid roof, which, from the 

 height and number of these insects, appear at a distance like a small village. Sometimes they affix their nests to 

 the branches of trees. Another sort of indiviilual, termed Neuters or Soldiers, and which Fabiicius mistook for 

 pupK, defend the nest. They have the head much larger and longer, and the mandibles are very long and cross 

 over each other. They are far less numerous than the larvae, and live near the outer surface of the nest, so that 

 they make their appearance first wlien it is attacked ; they are also stated to compel the W^orkers to labour. The 

 dtmi-nymphs have the rudiments of wings, and in other respects resemble the larva;. 



When arrived at the perfect state, the Termites quit 

 their liabitation, fly abroad *?luring the evening or 

 ni^^bt in great numbers ; they lose their wings before 

 morning, which dry, and falling to the earth, they 

 become the prey of birds, lizards, &c. 'I'he couples are 

 then collected by the larvae, which inclose each of them 

 in a large cell ; but Latreille conjectures that the act of 

 coupling takes place in the air, as in the Ants, and that 

 the females alone occupy the attention of the larv;e in 

 order to the establishment of fresh colonies. The ab- 

 domen of the female subsequently acquires an enor- 

 mous size, from theinnumerable eggs which it contains. 

 'J'he roval chamber occupies the centre of the babita. 

 tion, and around it are distributed those which con- 

 tain the eggs and provisions. 



Some larva: of Termes vinrum have eyes, and appear ' '-■ " ■ — '^ 



to have habits somewhat ditlerent to tlie rest, and to approach our Ant 



Negroes and HottL-'-tt.it3 are very fond of these insects. 



p p 2 



