90 NORTHERN TERRITORY TERMITID.E, i., 



numerous soldiers and workers. A portion of two wings only 

 remained. Considering the proximity of these insects to the 

 writer's house, the fact that lights were burning nightly only a 

 few yards distant, and that occupied passages were examined 

 frequently throughout the wet season, it is remarkable that 

 numbers of winged insects were not secured. 



Termes ruhriceps is not known to build termitaria, although 

 the insects are frequently taken in the walls of termitaria built 

 by Coptotermes acinacifo^^mis, at the base of termitaria built by 

 Eutet'mes triodice, and in abandoned nests of doubtful identity. 

 In such situations, the colonies are small, and consist of workers 

 and soldiers, which live upon the food stored by their hosts or 

 upon rejectamenta. 



Their real homes are in rambling, underground galleries and 

 chambers, situated on well-drained, pebbly or stony country. 

 They are largely grass-feeders, and, as such, can hardly be 

 regarded as pests. Small grassless or thinly grassed patches are 

 generally characteristic of the land tunnelled by these termites. 

 One may see, in such places, hundreds of workers and soldiers 

 streaming out of small openings, measuring about 6 mm. by 3 mm., 

 and dividing into parties or scattering. In a few minutes, the 

 workers begin to return, each with a short piece of grass (green 

 or dry), a grass-seed, a piece of Eucalypt-leaf or other vegetable 

 matter; and, before long, there is a constant stream backward 

 and forward. In this work, the soldiers direct operations, and 

 defend the workers from predaceous ants. When sufficient food 

 has been collected, or when disturbed, all return, and the open- 

 ings, from which they came, are quickly sealed up with saliva- 

 moistened earth. As a rule, operations are carried on simul- 

 taneously from several openings, sometimes as many as twelve, 

 over an area of 20 to 30 feet or more. Some of the openings are 

 provided with projecting lips, but, as a rule, they are flush with 

 the ground, faced with cemented particles of earth, and sealed 

 just below the level of the ground. 



Although generally nocturnal in their habits, they are very 

 often found gathering their food in the full glare of sunlight. 

 Stores are collected at frequent intervals throughout the year. 



