294 



fore us, more injurious than those we now have. Eternal vigi- 

 lance and the strict enforcement of plant quarantine regulations 

 are the price to be paid for immunity from these pests of other 

 countries. 



TERMITES, OR WHITE ANTS, IN HA\\AII. 



By DAVID T. FULLAWAY, Entomologist. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



The damage done by termites, or white ants, to wood, wood- 

 work and wood products has increased noticeably in the past few 

 years in the city of Honolulu, and the resulting losses have been 

 the occasion of considerable anxiety in certain quarters. 



These insects have been familiar to residents of the islands 

 in the past by their invasion of dwellings, where occasionally 

 their destructive activities in furniture and wood work would 

 make itself apparent. The earliest investigations of the fauna 

 of the islands^ revealed the widespread presence of two species, 

 referred respectively to Kalotcnncs uiarginipcnn'is and [Neoter- 

 mcs) Kalofcrmes castancus, the latter, however, being a true 

 forest insect and confining itself entirely to llie decaying wood 

 of trees. 



The previous de^-truction wrought by these species is slight 

 compared with that being done at the present time. The change 

 which has occurred in this respect is to be accounted for by the 

 entrance at Honolulu of two vastly more destructive species, 

 namely Coptot :rmes intriidens, which was first noticed in 1913,- 

 and a species Cryptotermes, referred to C. hrcvis, which has 

 probably been here since 1904. These species are spreading 

 rapidly, but at present are confined principally to Honolulu. 



The serious_ nature of these insects becomes apparent on con- 

 sidering the large use made of wood in construction throughout 

 the- islands, and the difficulty experienced in combatting them 

 or in attempting to restrain their spread. It has therefore been 

 necessary to give some attention to their study, which has been 

 very much neglected. Their cryptic habits, however, render 

 them difficult objects in this regard, and the investigations being 

 made of their biology cannot soon be completed. In view, how- 

 ever, of the importance of the subject, the need of attracting at- 

 tention to them and of educating the public in regard to the 

 means of circumventing or destroying them, it is considered ad- 

 visable to publish the following general account at once. The 

 results of the investigations will be made known at convenient 

 times later. 



1 Am. Nat. Hist. (5) XII, 1883, p. 227; F. H. II (2), p. S 

 2Proe. H. E. S. Ill (1), p. 27; lutr. to F. H., p. clxxiv. 



