138 NEUROPTERA. 



Note habits of the White Ants of Africa. (7, 304 ; 

 20, 404). 



Our native .species, Termes flmnpcs Kollar, is found 

 in old logs and stumps, and under stones. (4, III., 469; 

 4. IV., 694). 



EphemeriD/E {May-flics or Ephemcrids). 



The May-flies are distinguished as follows : — They 

 have long, slender, soft bodies ; the-mouth parts are 

 obsolete ; the antennfe are small ; the wings are of un- 

 equal size, the anterior pair being much the larger ; 

 posterior wings, in some species, wanting ; the extrem- 

 ity of the abdomen is furnished with two or three 

 setae. 



The eggs are laid in the water. The larva; are 

 aquatic ; they live under stones, among aquatic plants, 

 and in burrows in the mud ; they are carnivorous, and 

 require two or three years to mature. The pupae are 

 active, and have rudimentary wings. When ready to 

 transform, the pupa leaves the water, and at once 

 moults, assuming a winged form (pseudimago, or sub- 

 imago) which, after flying to some neighboring tree or 

 other object, moults again. The perfect insect has 

 more delicate wings, and longer caudal setae than the 

 subimago. 



The adult insects live only a few hours ; hence the 

 name. They occur in immense numbers. 



LiBELLUI.lDyE {Dragon-flies or Devil' s-darning- 

 needles). 



The Dragon-flies have long, narrow bodies. The 

 head is large, with enormous eyes ; thorax square and 

 bulky; abdomen long, slender, and cylindrical ; wings 



