KEVISIOlSr OF NEAECTIC TERMITES. 179 



thus enabling the insects to repair damages to the nests with safety 

 during the wet season; that is, the material would thus dry as quickly 

 as possible in tropical latitudes. Walker also described and figures 

 these nests (Sharp, 1901). 



In the United States there are two kno"^^^l and four new species of 

 Amitermes. The known species are Amiterines tuhiformans Buckley 

 and A. wheeleri Desneux; the new species — A. arizonensis Banks, 

 A. califomicus Banks, Amitermes ( ?) perplexus Banks, and AmiterTnes 

 (?) confusus Banks. In case of the species ferjplexus and confusus 

 there is some doubt as to whether or not they belong in the genus 

 Amitermes. Later collecting and observations in the field will 

 doubtless clear up the proper systematic position of these species. 



AMITERMES (TERMES) TUBIFORMANS Buckley. 



For taxonomy see pp. 55-56. 



This interesting tube-forming termite was described in 1862 by 

 Buckley from specimens of the soldier and worker from Lampasas, 

 San Saba County, Texas. Buckley's descriptions of the soldier and 

 worker, we will agree with Desneux (1905) are very vague. 



A. tubiformans has a very wide distribution through Texas, occur- 

 ring from Victoria south to Brownsville and west to El Paso. Morrill 

 also found specimens near Mesa, Arizona. It occurs in Mexico, 

 August Busck having collected specimens under cow dung at Camargo, 

 Mexico, on September 2. 1917. 



A. tubiformans Buckley of Texas and Arizona is a termite with a 

 peculiar habit. It lives in the ground, being of subterranean habit, 

 and is very conmaon in and under dry cow chips, especially in prairie 

 pastures. These termites cover low vegetation and grass with thin, 

 earth-like mortar, usually after rains. The termites as a rule work 

 at night. These termites are associated with Amitermes wheeleri 

 Desneux, Anoplotermes fumosus Hagen and species of Constricto- 

 termes under cow chips, on which they evidently feed. 



Buckley (1862) states that this species often has clay tubes 4 to 6 

 inches high above the surface of the ground, interlacing and crossing 

 each other at various angles and generally attached to grass or bushes. 

 These tubes are very thin and from one-third to one-half inch in 

 diameter; beneath these cylinders they also have cells in the ground. 

 E. A. Schwarz (1895) wi-ites that this species is extremely abun- 

 dant in southwestern Texas, occurring in the spring beneath and 

 within patches of cow dung, and after midsummer in the tubes 

 around grass stalks and the stems of other plants. 



In the prairie regions of both Texas and Arizona this termite live - 

 in the ground, feeding on the roots of grass and other vegetation, 

 and is sometimes found under stones, but more commonly under dry 

 cow chips, where large colonies occur. This species sometimes 

 destroys the vegetation over large areas of grazing land. One of its 



