THE TERMITES 



forms to stand in, near the exit-holes. At the moment of 

 departure some of the workers and soldiers, which for some 

 time have shown signs of excitement, pass out of the exit- 

 holes and form a ring round them, outside the nest. The 

 winged forms then leave and fly off over a period of two or 

 two-and-a-half hours ; thereafter the holes are stopped up 

 again. 



Few termites are capable of powerful flight. Usually they 

 travel less than ioo yards, only occasionally as much as a 

 mile. Mating does not usually take place in the air, though 

 in Pseudacanthotermes the male seizes the female in flight, 

 losing his wings at the same moment. The female flies on 

 with the male and loses her wings only on landing. In most 

 species, however, both sexes get rid of their wings on landing, 

 pressing them against some plant stems so that they snap off 

 at the preformed line of weakness. 



The wingless adults are still very excited and dash about 

 in all directions on the ground. If a male and female meet, 

 they stand face to face, tapping one another with their mouth- 

 parts and antennae. If the male is accepted, the female 

 turns round and walks off, followed by the male, and they 

 undertake what is known as " the nuptial promenade ". This 

 is essentially a search by the female, often lasting several 

 hours, for a suitable site for a new nest. This will very often 

 be found at the side of a fallen log, or against a post or tree, 

 preferably where conditions are a little damp. 



The male and female together dig a tunnel, later enlarged 

 into a small chamber. The entrance is gradually blocked by 

 debris from inside, the complete work taking a day or two. 

 When they have finished they become inactive, and at this 

 moment, for some obscure reason, they each remove the last 

 few segments of their antennae. Mating occurs for the first 

 time either at once or some time up to a fortnight later, 



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