124 ERNEST WAREEN. 



Termes iBcertns Hagen. 



Found in Natal from coast to altitude of 4500 ft. 



The wing-ed imagos are about 8-5 mm. long, and have a 

 head-breadth of I'B nnn. 



The soldiers and Avorkers are of one size only. 



The soldiers are 4 mm. long, head-breadth, 0'76 mm.; 

 workers are 4-5 mm. long, head-breadth, 0-88 mm. 



The nest consists of cavities in the ground joined by narrow 

 passages. Some of the cavities contain fungus-beds, and are 

 then more or less spherical. The tunnels which do not con 

 tain fungus-beds are lenticular with a flat floor. 



The fungus-beds are delicate, and the fungus-globules are 

 smaller than in the other species. Both king and queen can 

 move from one cavity of the nest to another, as the communi- 

 cating passages are frequently large enough for the queen, 

 whose abdomen is long and rather slender. 



This species generally forms its nest in the nests of the 

 larger species of fungus-growers, but it is sometimes found 

 independently. In the latter case the nest may occur at a 

 variable depth below the surface, from a few inches to several 

 feet. This species is never found in the mounds of T. triner- 

 vius or in those of other non-fungus-growers. 



The smaller species does not appear to be parasitic on the 

 larger fungus-growing species, except in the sense that the 

 mounds of the latter are suitable places for their nests. 



When such an infested nest is being opened it is not 

 infrequent to see one or two workers and soldiers of T. in- 

 certus clinging to the legs of an individual of the larger 

 species, but the latter does not appear to heed them in the 

 confusion caused by opening the nest. 



The nymphs are abundant during the cold season; they 

 obtain their Avings in September and October, and swarm 

 during November and December. They issue from the nest 

 soon after sunset. 



The soldiers are as small as the workers, and are not readily 



