REVISION OF NEARCTIC TERMITES. 175 



Reticulitermes luclfugus, like all the other species in this genus, is 

 subterranean in habit and is destructive to wood, Lespes (1856), 

 Fritz Miiller (1873 and 1875), Ferris (1876), Grassi (1893), Perez 

 (1894), Feytaud (1912), and many others have studied this termite 

 in Europe. 



Mr. Banks has foimd differences between the European R. lucifugus 

 Rossi and R. claripennis ; but he considers it unlikely that lucifugus 

 should occur in the central west of the United States. While R. 

 claripennis Banks has often been confused with lucifugus, the species 

 Jiesperus Banks is more nearly related, especially in colonies where the 

 long-headed soldier form is absent. In this event both winged 

 adults and soldiers are very similar. This termite has, however, 

 been found at Stony Brook and other locaUties near Forest Hills, 

 Massachusetts, by R. J. Dobson. Mr. Banks states that it is very 

 close to R. Jiesperus, with wings fully as dark or darker (probably 

 specimens that have flown wiU be darker). The ocelh are as in 

 claripennis, but the wings are much darker. Mr. Banks says that 

 he has no doubt but what it has been introduced from southern 

 Europe, possibly in dirt about trees for the Arnold Arboretum at 

 Forest Hills, Massachusetts, 



Kellogg in his American Insects (1908) records a specific instance 

 where lucifugus has been introduced into the United States from 

 Europe. He writes: 



The spread of termites from one continent to another, as in the case of Termes flavipes 

 from America to Europe, and Termes lucifugus from Europe to America, can be easily 

 explained by involuntaiy migration in ships. In unpacking several cases of chemicals 

 received from Germany at Stanford University, scores of termites were exposed when 

 the wooden boxes were broken up. The insects, mining in the wood of the boxes, had 

 protection, food, and free transportation on their long ocean journey from Hamburg 

 around Cape Horn to California. 



It is not known whether or not this termite is established in Cali- 

 fornia. 



SWARMING. 



According to Dobson, R. lucifugus probably swarms about one 

 month later than flavipes in the vicinity of Boston, Massachusetts, 



Winged adults collected in colonies or flymg in June and July; 

 no swarm has yet been observed. Dobson has worked on the bio- 

 logy of R. flavipes and lucifugus in this vicinity and found an enlarged 

 first form queen of lucifugus. 



Hagen (1858) cites records which show that in Europe lucifugus 

 swarms in both the spring (April) and f aU (October) . 



Dobson (1918) finds differences in the seasonal activity oi flavipes 

 from those the writer has recorded in Virginia. 



According to Hagen (1858) the egg is 0.65 to 0.7 mm. in length. 



