CHAPTER VIII. 

 Order ISOPTERA (I-sop'te-ra). 



The Termites or White-ants. 



The members of this order are social insects. Each species 

 consists of several distinct castes, of which only the " Kings " 

 and the " Queens " are winged. TJiese have four long, nar- 

 row wings, which are somewhat leathery in structure, and 

 which are furnished with numerous but more or less indistinct 

 veins. The two pairs of wings are similar in form and struc- 

 ture, and are laid flat upon the back when not in use. The 

 mouth-parts are formed for biting. The metamorphosis is in- 

 complete. 



The name of this order is from two Greek words : isos, 

 equal ; and pteron, a wing. It refers to the fact that the two 

 pairs of wings are similar in form and structure. 



The wings of the Termites (Termites), although really 

 broad when compared to the size of the body, appear 

 narrow on account of their great length, being in many 

 cases more than twice as long as the entire body. 



The order includes only a single family. 



Family Termitid^e (Ter-mit'i-dae). 



The Termites or White-ants. 



These interesting insects are not Ants, nor at all related 

 to them ; but they have been thus called because they have 

 certain social habits that are similar to those of true Ants. 

 They are more abundant in the tropics than here; and 



95 



