297 



On the authority of Dr. T. E. Snyder,"^ of the U. S. Bureau of 

 Entomology, who has examined specimens of termites from Ha- 

 waii and compared them with authentic material, the three Kalo- 

 termites have been erroneously referred to the species named 

 and are distinct from any species previously described. They 

 will therefore soon be described as new. 



The species of Coptotenncs was recently described'' by Mr. 

 Masamitsu Oshima, of the Institute of Science, Government of 

 Formosa, from specimens taken by the writer. It is said to be 

 very closely related to Coptotennes formosanus, the destructive 

 Formosan species, and is probably Asiatic in origin, although 

 the genus is represented in Australia, South America and Mada- 

 gascar. As previously stated it was first noticed in Honolulu in 

 1913. In the meantime, it has slowly spread and occupied new 

 ground, but has not gone generally beyond the limits of the 

 city as far as I know. I believe the infestation of sugar cane 

 discovered at Pearl City is the only instance of its occurrence 

 outside. 



The species of Cryptotcnnes found here, although the winged 

 forms were collected as early as 1904, was not distinguished 

 from Kaiotcrmcs marginipcnnis until 1917 when soldiers were 

 discovered, compelling immediate discrimination. The head of 

 the Cryptotermcs soldier is large and thick and has a deep cav- 

 ity in the front — a very distinct type. 



HABITS OF HAWAIIAN TERMITES. 



A striking difference is found in the habits of the species dis- 

 tinguished above in respect to their family relationship, and as 

 the three species included in the Kalotermitinae are essentially 

 similar in habit, it is only necessary to discuss the habits of one, 

 the species of Cryptotermes, which will serve as a type of that 

 group in the same way that the species of Coptotcrmes senses as 

 a type of the Coptotermitinae. 



Habits of Cryptotcnnes— typical of Kalotcnnitinac. The 

 species of Cryptotermes and its congeners are essentially 

 borers. Unlike other termites, they are able to live in dry wood, 

 to which they gain access by boring an entrance hole. Once in- 

 side, their galleries are extended lengthwise with the grain of 

 the wood and widened in places. Here is formed the simple 

 nidus. Around the royal pair are the larvae, nymphs and sol- 

 diers, and adhering to the walls usually a few eggs. There is no 

 worker caste in this group. Colonies usually consist of less than 

 a hundred individuals but are generally closely spaced and 

 numerous. Often lateral, communication channels are formed, 



4 Snyder in litt. 



sProe. H. E. S. lY (2), p. 261. 



