28 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



THE COMMON TERMITE. 



Termes Iticifugus Rossi. 

 (Figs. 25, 26.) 



General Appearance. — The workers of this species are rather small, 

 being shown as natural size in Fig. 26. They are transparently white 

 in color, the contents of the alimentary canal giving a yellowish or 



brownish cast. The head is darker yellow 

 and mandibles brown. The soldier ants have 

 large brown heads, comprising at least one 

 third of their entire bodies. The queen ant 

 is much larger than the other forms, while 

 the males are small. It is claimed that there 

 are no less than fifteen kinds of individuals in 

 this species. 



Life History. — These termites usually live 

 in dead or decaying wood but often work into 

 the living and growing tissues. They make 

 very extensive galleries through all parts and 

 thus often destroying buildings, fences, etc., 

 as well as fruit trees. The queen gives rise 

 to all the young, which appear in great num- 

 bers, especially during the summer months. 

 In the fall or autumn winged or migratory 

 forms appear and often fly by thousands on 

 dark days and towards evening. In habits 

 and life history they greatly resemble true 

 ants and bees. 



Distribution, — This species may be found 

 in almost every section of the State. 



Food Plants.— As previously stated, these termites usually work 

 upon dead or decaying wood, Init then usually only in the presence of 

 moisture. In the southern parts of the State these insects have often 

 become destructive to fruit trees, working upon the roots underground 

 and making galleries up the trunk. No doubt they usually begin to 

 work in the decaying tissues but often continue into the healthy por- 

 tions of the tree. Nectarines, peaches and apricots seem to suffer most, 

 while citrus and other trees and plants are also attacked. 



Control. — Due to their secluded work the damage is usually done 

 before their presence is known and too late to effect a remedy. How- 

 ever, if close observations are made in infested districts and their work 

 discovered the colony may be almost entirely exterminated by the use 

 of a liberal dose of carbon bisulfid applied in cotton or a sponge 

 directly within their burrows or under the base of the tree. 



Fig. 26. — Termes lucifugus 

 Ro.ssi, working on roots of 

 nectarine tree. (Original.) 



