299 



are often met by the use of runways through the earth to new 

 sources of supply. Long distances are often traversed in this 

 way. Where circumstances force these foragers to the surface 

 the runway is covered over with material like that used in con- 

 structing the nest. 



DAMAGE DONE BV TEinriTES. 



Termites are notorious principally on account of their destruc- 

 tion of wood, but they are also known to damage paper and 

 cloth. Recent experiments" have definitely shown that they sub- 

 sist entirely upon cellulose, which explains the peculiarities in 

 their selection of food. Instances are recorded of their penetra- 

 tion of the hardest substances to obtain food and it is claimed 

 that the milky, acid fluid secreted from the frontal gland by the 

 soldiers of species of Coptotermes \n\\\ dissolve lime mortar and 

 lime concrete and enables them to work a passage through these 

 materials. 



The multiplication of species in the case of the termites and 

 their restriction to definite environments, due as in the 

 ants to a great measure of adaptability, has determined 

 in a way the character of termite injury as far as Hawaiian 

 species are concerned. For instance, the Neotcrmcs is restricted 

 to the forests and so far as known attacks only weakened or 

 dying trees, the Coptotcruics flourishes in moist situations, gener- 

 ally attacking wood in or near the ground. Kalotcnncs and Cryp- 

 totcnncs on the other hand cannot endure a great deal of mois- 

 ture but can thrive on dry wood. They favor the woodwork and 

 interior furnishings of houses. " 



The damage done by termites in Hawaii which has come to 

 the writer's attention includes a wide range of subjects, as fol- 

 lows : 



Frame buildings, railroad ties, construction timbers, wood 

 furniture, service poles, stored lumber, books, wharf timbers, 

 shooks, packing boxes, trees, shrubs, cotton cloth, crop plants. 



METHODS OF CONTROL. 



Natural or biological control. There is very little prospect of 

 securino- a practical and eft'ective control of the termites present 

 in Hawaii by natural agencies. At present we know of no inter- 

 nal parasites of these insects with the exception of certain pro- 

 tozoa which are found always and everywdiere in association 

 with termites, but are apparently not inimical, and are possibly 

 beneficial. In this respect the termites resemble another xexy 

 successful group of insects, the mosquitoes. Termites are also 

 subject to the attack of mites and molds, or parasitic fungi. 

 The latter are known occasionally to wipe out colonies entirely 

 but neither can be said to exercise an effective control over ter- 



