INSECTS. APTERA. ixi. Termes. 693 
tliehead, forked, without teeth, (harp and black : thorax and 
abdomen palifh. 
Thcfc never work, but a£l as fuperintendants over the labou- 
rers, or as guards to defend their habitations from intrufion 
and violence. When a breach is made in the dwelling, they 
ru(h forward and defend the entrance with great ferocity ; 
fome of them beating with their mandibles againft any hard 
fubftance, as a fignal to the other guards, or as encouragement 
to the labourers ; they then retire and are lucceeded by the 
labourers, each with a burthen of tempered mortar in his 
mouth, and who diligently fet about to repair whatever in- 
jury has been fuftained. One of thefc attends every 6 or 800 
labourers who are building a wall, taking no adlive part him- 
fclf, but frequently making the noife above mentioned, which 
is conilantly anfvvered by a loud hifs from all the labourers, 
who at this fignal evidently redouble their diligence. 
The Male and Female are alike and furnifhed with a. long hori- 
zontal wings : head fmall brown t mandibles Ihort acute tooth- 
ed: antenna; yellowilh j eyes globular prominent black :tho. 
rax with 3 brown or dull teftaccous margined fegments : 
abdomen ovate, the back brown wdth white ftttaks t legs 
pabfl’- 
Thefe are extricated from the pupa date and fly abroad in the 
night; but foon after fun-rife, the wings become dry and they 
fall on the ground, and are devoured by birds or fought after 
by the inhabitants who roaft and eat them with great avidi- 
ty. A few that furvive are collcaed by the labourers or lar- 
vteand inclofed by pairs in apartments made of clay, the a- 
pertureof which is narrowed fo that they cannot migrate, and 
where they are diligently fed and attended by the labourers 
whofe bodies arc final! enough to admit an eafy entrance. 
After impregnation, the abdomen of the female grows to a prodi- 
gious bulk, exceeding the relief her body nearly 2000 times : 
it is then veficular and white with tranfverfe brown fpots and 
an undulate or ilightly lobed margin. In this Hate it contains 
an immenfe number of fmall round brown eggs, which 
are protruded to the amount of Rooo in 24 hours. Theieare 
inllantly taken up by the labourer.', and conveyed to feparate 
chambers, where after they are hatched, ,che young are atten- 
ded and provided for, till they are able to fliitt lur themfelves, 
and take their fliare in the labours of the comauinity. 
Body above teftaccous ; heasl black ; antennx' yellow. 
Defcer. 3. tab. zl.fg. 6, 7. Berol. 4. tab. i. Larva. 
4 merka lndkif^\lL Jftkf an ovate thick neft a. 
bout the brantlioc ofirciM' lefcmbles the hill in its manners' 
and is aoout half the iize. 
Lar<va pale brownilh head black conic and tspeung to a point; 
eyes o. 
Maria, 
