XV. 4 



Oshima: Foirmosan Termites 



341 



Experiment U. — In order to confirm the results obtained in 

 experiment 3, Coptotermes formosanus in captivity in the special 

 tube was fed with cotton wool, which is pure cellulose. It was 

 observed that it lives more actively than when soft woods are 

 given as food, perforating and eating the cotton wool. 



As a result of the above experiments the following facts were 

 found : 



1. The principal food of Coptotermes formosanus is cellulose. 



2. Coptotermes formosanus decomposes lignocellulose into cellulose and 



noncellulose, namely, lignin, and builds its nest with the latter. 



3. Cellulose is the principal constituent of the cell walls of plant tissue. 



Therefore, almost all sorts of wood are attacked by Coptotermes 

 formosanus. 



4. Paper, wood pulps, books, and cotton wool are liable to be attacked, 



because they consist of pure cellulose. 



5. According to a statement of Thomas E. Snyder, Leucotcrm.es flaviceps, 



the commonest termite in the United States, also attacks books, 

 wood pulp, pasteboard, and rolls of cloth very seriously. This 

 seems to indicate that cellulose may be the principal food of the 

 majority of termites. 



TERMITE-PROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 



Serious damage to the Japanese buildings in Formosa is due 

 to the Japanese timbers that are used as the principal building 

 materials; namely, pine and cryptomeria. They are most liable 

 to damage, because they contain a large amount of cellulose in 

 comparison with other timbers, as shown in Table VII. 



Table VII.- 



-The amount of cellulose and noncellulose contained in various 

 timbers. 



Cellulose. 



Ebony 



Oak 



Teak _ 



Mahogany 



Cryptomeria 



Pine (heartwood).- 

 Pine (soring wood) 



Per ctnt 

 29.19 

 39.47 

 43.12 

 49.07 

 50.29 

 51.39 

 53.33 



Noncel- 

 lulose. 



Per cent 

 48.08 

 34.30 

 38.16 

 27.91 | 

 25.13 I 

 22.69 J 

 21.77 ! 



When Japan occupied Formosa, Japanese architects had had 

 no experience in regard to methods of preventing the damage 

 caused by termites. Therefore, they erected buildings there just 

 as in the mother country, paying no attention to the termite. 

 This is another reason for the serious damage, for Japanese 

 buildings are not suited to the Tropics. They rather attract the 



