REVISION OF ITEARGTIC TERMITES. 193 



The workers have large brown-colored heads and the nasuti small 

 black heads and long legs and antennae. These colonies were not 

 large and the nasuti were rare. Probably the real nest is deep under- 

 ground. 



This termite, as well as other species in the genus Constrictotermes , 

 is injurious to living vegetation. On April 3, 1916, D. C. Parman 

 collected specimens of workers and nasuti of C. cinereus at Uvalde, 

 Texas, that were destroying living plants by sucking the juices. 

 They worked onl}^ at night, disappearing very suddenly when 

 approached with a light. The plants within the next day when the 

 sun strikes them. They travel in a stream about the size of a finger 

 and always travel in large numbers. 



SWARMING. 



D. C. Parman found this termite swarming at night on September 

 21, 1917, at Uvalde, Texas. His notes read: 



On the morning of September 21 many wings and an occasional mutilated large 

 termite were observed about the laboratory. On tliis evening 8 p. n\,, two of these 

 termites are at the light at my window. (Specimens collected.) The weather has 

 been cool and raining for the last three or four days, and a slow rain has fallen almost 

 continually. No termites have been observed to fly in daytime. (Temperature 

 range, maximum 79, minimum 66.) 



The egg is white, slightly reniform, and less than tln-ee-fourths 

 millimeter in length. 



References to biological or economic literature. 



1862. Buckley, S. B. Proc. Ent. Soc. Philadelphia, vol. 1, pp. 212-213 {Termes 



cinereus). 

 1896. ScHWARZ, E. A. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vol. 4, No. 1, p. 40 (Termes 



nigriceps Haldeman). 

 1905. Desneux, J. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., vol. 49, pp. 342-3 (Eutermes cinereus 



Buckley). 

 1919. Snyder, T. E. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vol. 21, No. 5, pp. 97-104, May. 



"EUTERMES" (TERMES) NIGRICEPS Haldeman. 



Haldeman (1853) described this termite from western Mexico, in 

 1853. The type of this species is lost and the description would fit 

 at least two other species, and probably other allied species occur in 

 Mexico, so Mr. Banks has dropped this name for the present. 



Schwarz (1896) states that he does not hesitate in identifying 

 Haldeman's Termes nigricejjs with a species of Eutermes tolerably 

 abundant throughout southwestern Texas. He says: 



Buckley's description of "Eutermes cinereus" agrees with my specimens, but his 

 account of the mode of occurrence and habits greatly differs from my observations. 

 Both Haldeman and Buckley describe only the workers and nasuti. Haldeman was 

 informed by his correspondent that " this small species constructs nests, apparently 

 of cow's dung, which are attached to the trunks of trees. " Buckley observed his 

 species in San Saba and adjoining counties of Texas. 



