OBSERVATIONS ON SOME SOUTH AFRICAN TERMITES. -ill 



the mound, and a thin layer of black, and no doubt organic, 

 matter on the walls of the galleries, for the fungus to subsist 

 upon ; this wall-deposit is more conspicuous when a red or 

 grey coloured soil has been used to build the fabric. Although 

 the termites will destroy the base of the agaric if the stalk is 

 deep set in the mound, they never attack the superior portion ; 

 indeed, in the case of the larger agaric, the termites con- 

 struct what appear to be protecting clay collars around it 

 when in the sprouting stage. Whilst several (one to five) 

 agarics may grow upon one mound, it is rather extraordinary 

 that only a small percentage of mounds have the fungus 

 associated with them. 



The galleries of the mounds are throughout summer and 

 winter choked to a great extent with short grass-lengths or 

 hay. This is sometimes noticeably more abundant in the outer 

 galleries of the nest, those under the crust, and the larger 

 cells (or cellars) at the floor of the hive ; but, as a rule, the 

 provisions are distributed fairly evenly throughout the whole 

 nest. It is only in the spring of the year (November) that 

 there is a marked depletion in the hay contents of the 

 hive. 



According to Haviland's notes the workers cut the grass 

 during the wet season (summer), working at night or in the 

 early morning, and even in the middle of the day during dull 

 weather. He further states that, " like Hodotermes, they 

 stand head downwards ^ on a stem of grass, and with their 

 mandibles gradually cut ai'ound the stem until it is sawn 

 through." It has only been my good fortune to observe these 

 insects foraging in the twilight, when their activities are 

 difficult to follow. The workers seem to cut the grass blades 

 thi'ough as best they can and stand in any attitude. They also 

 gather green grass seed, and in the early evening this is piled 

 on the surface of the ground ready for removal into the 

 burrows before daylight. 



It has been recorded that the images reach maturity 

 during September and October in Natal, issuing after night- 

 ^ Hodotermes does not necessarily adopt this attitude. 

 VOL. 3, PAUT 2. 28 



