Il6 PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL- 22, NO. 6, JUNE, 1920 



mon in this genus. Only one queen of the third form has as yet 

 been found in colonies of species of Kalotermes (i. e., K. jouteli 

 Banks of southern Florida). Matured queens of the first form are 

 not rare in species of these genera. In species of Termopsis 

 adults of the third form are more common and also apparently 

 more numerous in colonies. 



The reproductive forms of the species of the family Kaloter- 

 mitidae Banks, including the genera Termopsis Heer, Kalotermes 

 Hagen, also Neotermes Holmgren and Cryptotermes Banks, which 

 are not subterranean in habit, are always to be found in the wood 

 in which the colony is located and are hence often more exposed 

 to the light and their enemies. Species of Termopsis, in the north- 

 ern extension of their range, inhabit logs, stumps, etc., which are 

 covered by snow and ice for long periods in winter. 



In the species Prorhinolermes simplex Hagen closely re- 

 lated systematically to species of Reticnlitcnnes whose habitat 

 is the coastal region and the keys of southern Florida, also the 

 \Vest Indies (occurring mainly on islands), third form or apterous 

 reproductive forms are common. This may be an adaptation to 

 the habitat; it is frequently stated that wingless forms are more 

 numerous on islands, the winged forms being blown into the 

 water. Colonies of this species are liable to be caught up by 

 the waters and scattered broadcast. Such apterous forms are 

 adapted to island life by their lack of wings; the isolation helps 

 to perpetuate them and they are dispersed in driftwood. 



So far as my own observations go, there are no third form 

 reproductive types in the Nearctic genera of the higher termites, 

 i. e., Holmgren's family the Metatermitidae. The "intermediates," 

 as well as the third form adults, have disappeared in the higher, 

 but have persisted in the lower termites. Holmgren and Fritz 

 Miiller have each recorded an "ergatoid" queen as occurring in 

 "Eutermes;" it may not, however, be a typical third form but 

 the second form with rudimentary wing-pads. 



However, the absence of this form may only be apparent, due 

 to insufficient study in the field. 



Body Pigment and Eyes. In species of termites which live in 

 wood above ground but not in earth, certain castes have a more 

 deeply pigmented body than in the case of the subterranean 

 species Reticulitermes flavipes; these are the third form reproduc- 

 tive individuals of Termopsis, the soldiers and third form repro- 

 ductive individuals of Kalotermes, and the workers, soldiers and 

 third form reproductive individuals of Prorhinotermes simplex'. 

 The castes of the subterranean species of the genus Reticulitermes 

 have pale or dirty white bodies, except the winged adults, which 

 at the time of swarming have a light or dark brown skin, although 



