268 
Psyche 
[December 
T. insularis (Morr.), L. tenuis (Hag.), Trinidad. 
T. panamensis n. sp., L. tenuis (Hag.), 
y •ffCi 1 f ^ 
L. convexinotatus bnyder I 
In view of the additional species which have been brought 
to light within recent years coincident probably with intensified 
study of termites and of termitophiles, it would be premature to 
say much about distribution of the family. At present Central 
America seems to be the centre of greatest abundance but this 
may be due to greater collecting in the region. The distribution 
is certainly however practically circumtropical. In many res- 
pects it resembles that of Peripatus (sens, lat.) and may, as in 
the case of that genus indicate considerable antiquity as Mjoberg 
has suggested. 
Habitat notes of the previously dds-cribed species are scanty 
in the extreme. Of T. mexicana, Silvestri (1911) writes “in 
cuniculis nidi Leucotermes tenuis (Hag.).’’ When describing T. 
annandalei the same writer states “in nido Coptotermes Heimi 
Wasm., in trunco arboris {Ficus hengalensis) emortui et super 
solui sistentis exempla nonnulla Dr. N. Annandale legit. 
Mjoberg found a number of examples of his Queensland species 
“under bark of dead eucalyptus trunks in the colonies of a white 
ant {Coptotermes sp.) in the open forest country.” 
Dr. Wheeler found the Panama specimens within a termite 
nest {Leucotermes convexinotatus Snyder) the Termitaphids 
themselves being close to the cambium of the tree trunk from 
which they might probably have extracted nourishment. They 
were running about fairly actively. 
What little is known of its habitat therefore seems to suggest 
that Termitaphids may have the same feeding habits as the 
Aradidse. 
What advantage they derive from living in the termite nest 
is uncertain. Termitaradus is probably protected from the 
termites themselves by its lateral laminae and their armature. 
Termitaphis exhibits a certain degree of physogastry, a well- 
known feature of termitophiles and one which might indicate 
this genus as the more specialized of the two, though in the 
