Order ISOPTERA. 



This order is characterized by having a flattened, loose-jointed body, 

 the wings similar in size and shape, net veined, the metamorphoses in- 

 complete. Only a single representative species occurs in New Jersey, the 

 Termite, commonly known as a "white ant." These "white ants" live in 



colonies in dead or decaying 

 stumps, logs or standing 

 trunks or under stones in 

 woodland. The forms most 

 commonly seen are the 

 "workers," which are whitish 

 in color, have a large head 

 without eyes, moderately de- 

 veloped jaws, a soft, some- 

 what flattened oval body, and 

 are about one-quarter of an 

 inch long. Scattered among 

 them are somewhat larger 

 individuals with long, sharp- 

 pointed, brown-tipped mandi- 

 bles, and these are the sol- 

 diers whose function it is to 

 defend the colony. In the 

 spring, yet larger, chestnut- 

 brown forms with eyes and 

 developed wings are found, and these are the males and females which 

 "swarm" in May or Junte, coming out of the nests in immense numbers 

 and fluttering feebly in the bright sunshine for a short period. 



They do not attack growing vegetation in our State, but are often 

 found in partly decayed trees and may hasten the death of such. Some- 

 times 'they get into the woodwork of fences and buildings, and may then 

 do considerably injury. Remedial measures must be adapted to the case 

 in hand and may mean the injection of carbon disulphide, soaking with 

 creosote or the actual removal of the infested wood. In all cases an effort 

 should be made to locate and destroy the central nest from which the 

 specimens come. 



Our species is listed as follows: 



Family TERMITID.C 



TERMES Linn. 

 T. flavipes Koll. Found commonly throughout the State. 



Fig. 9. Termes flavipcs or "white ant," showing 



the castes: a, larva; b, winged female; c, 



worker; d, soldier; e, large female; f, 



pupa. Natural size marked by lines. 



4 ix 



(49) 



