10S NEW ZEALAND ENTOMOLOGY. 



fully elaborate nests constructed by the African and other 

 species, about which so much has been written, and so 

 much remains to be discovered. The present insect appears 

 in the perfect state during January and February. It is 

 seldom noticed flying about, but may be readily obtained 

 by opening the nests, where a large number are frequently 

 seen huddled together in the main galleries. At this time 

 the community consists of three classes of individuals, viz., 

 males, females, and workers, which last are in all proba- 

 bility nothing more than the larvae. After pairing they 

 shed their wings and return to the nest, the female becom- 

 ing very much distended with eggs. About March she 

 commences to lay. This is continued for several months, 

 and during this time the female is queen of the nest. She 

 resides in a capacious chamber, from which numerous gal- 

 leries diverge in all directions, some extending as far as 

 eighteen or twenty inches, but the most populous portion 

 of the nest is contained within a radius of six inches from 

 the queen's apartment. The "soldiers" (Fig. lb) now appear 

 in considerable numbers. They are chiefly stationed in the 

 royal chamber, and furiously attack any intruders ; but the 

 workers which stream in and out, carrying the eggs from 

 the queen, they treat with the greatest gentleness. I have 

 never seen soldiers in a nest containing winged insects, nor 

 indeed later in the spring than October, when they seem to 

 have all disappeared. With regard to the nature of these 

 individuals I am unable to supply any positive information, 

 but it appears probable that they are abortive males, in the 

 same way that the neuters of the bees and ants are abortive 

 females. As none of these insects have yet been reared, 

 many points of great interest remain to be discovered in con- 

 nection with their economy, and a rigid investigation of a 

 number of nests kept in captivity, is the only mode by which 

 we can hope to become fully acquainted with the habits of 

 this interesting family. 



