NOTES OxV THE LIFK-HIfSTORIES OF NATAL TERMITES. 121 



Tei'ines la t eric ins Havilaiid. 



This species occurs in Natal from the sea-coast to an alti- 

 tude of about 4,500 feet. 



The winged imago is about 14 mm. long, head-breadth, 

 2 "2 mm. 



The soldiers are all of one size, and the workers are of two 

 sizes. 



The length of the soldier is about 5 nmi., nnd the head- 

 l)readth 1 "4 mm. ; large worker, 5 mm. long, head-breadth, 

 VS mm.; small worker, 4 mm. long, head-breadth, 1"1 mm. 



The nest has no mound. There are three to four vent-holes 

 which lead into pipes running vertically into the ground. 

 The holes are roughly placed on the circumference of a circle, 

 with a diameter of 6-12 ft. The diameter of the vertical 

 shafts varies from 1-6 in. The depth is usually about 4 ft., 

 but it may extend to 6 ft. The shafts do not lead dii'ectly 

 into the nest, and frequently their connection with the nest is 

 not easy to make out. The external opening of the shaft may 

 be prolonged as a tube above the surface of the ground, even 

 as much as 2 ft. The vent-holes may be closed over in the 

 winter. 



The nest is placed in the middle of the circle formed by the 

 vent-holes^ and is situated at a depth of 3-6 ft. The royal 

 cell is irregular in position and shape, and through its floor it 

 may be in wide communication with the nest. Two, or even 

 three, queens may be found in the cell. It often happens 

 that the royal cell is not in the nest at all, but is hollowed out 

 in the earth which forms the walls of the nest. 



The fungus-beds have thin delicate walls, and are arranged 

 chiefly in horizontal layers. The fungus globules are densely 

 crowded on the under surface of the beds, but occur only 

 sparsely scattered on the upper surface. 



The imagos fly in the early part of the wet season, Novem- 

 ber to December. They issue from the nest in great numbei-s, 

 generally about 8 a.m. Males and females come out simul- 

 taneously. They do not issue from the vertical shafts, but by 



VOL. 2, PART 1. 9 



