Is opt era 275 



taken into the alimentary tract along with the diatoms, but yellow fresh- 

 water diatoms and decaying vegetation constitute their main food. Old 

 leaves which have fallen into the water apparently supply the bulk of 

 decaying vegetable matter used by the nymphs for food. 



M. E. D. 



Order isoptera 



LABORATORY COLONIES OF TERMITES* 



Esther C. Hendee, Limestone College, Gaffney, South Carolina 



DAMP-WOOD TERMITES 



THE damp-wood termites, Zootermopsis angusticollis and Z. nevaden- 

 sis, because of their comparatively large size and the ease with which 

 they may be maintained in laboratory colonies, are satisfactory termites 

 for experimental work. These species are confined to western North 

 America. Although they are sometimes found in sound wood, they more 

 frequently inhabit rotten wood. Rotten logs which lie near a stream are 

 favorable places in which to look for damp-wood termites. Since the 

 termites seal up the entrance to their burrows, it is usually necessary 

 to chop into the log in order to detect their presence. 



The termites are brought to the laboratory in large pieces of the wood 

 in which they have been found. If more than a few hours are to elapse 

 before they reach the laboratory, the wood is wrapped in damp paper to 

 prevent drying. 



Upon reaching the laboratory the termites are removed from the wood 

 by splitting it cautiously so as to expose the termite galleries and then 

 gently knocking the ends of the pieces. The termites thus dislodged are 

 allowed to fall into a large container or, as an extra precaution against 

 injury, onto a sheet of cloth. At best, a few termites will be injured. It is 

 therefore advisable to wait two or three days before using the termites 

 for any experimental purpose. During that time weak or injured indi- 

 viduals may be detected and removed from the group. 



If it is desired to transport termites which have already been removed 

 from the wood in which they were found in the field, the following 

 method of packing is used. Numerous holes are bored in some blocks of 

 wood by means of an auger. The termites are placed in these holes. The 

 blocks are then wrapped in many layers of damp paper and finally en- 

 closed in heavy dry paper or a box. 



Termites from different natural colonies are, if possible, kept separate 



* Further information concerning the biology of termites and a biblography are given 

 in "Termites and Termite Control" which is edited by Kofoid, Light, Horner, Randall, 

 Herms, and Bowe (1934). 



