94 Proceedings of India na Acad f in y of f^cience. 



The third report of termite injury CMiue from Iiidianupolis on August 

 27th. A backyard gardener wondering wliy his sweet corn did not yield 

 as it should dug up some of the plants and found the lower parts heavily 

 infested with termites (See Plate II. B.). Over IHO feet of row were thus 

 damaged. Specimens submitted were 7?. ftariix'.^i Kollar. 



Taken as a whole over the Ignited States termite injury to living plants 

 seems to be increasing due no doulit to rbe fact that their hcunes. such as 

 logs and stumps, are rapidly disappearing liecause of the practice of clean 

 cultivation. As a result the termites are forced to seek elsewhere for suffi- 

 cient food and their attacks on living plants are one way that they are 

 meeting the exigency. On the other hand it should be pointed out that 

 keeping areas on which plants are grown free from decaying wood and 

 otlier debris on which termites can exist is necessary if damage is to be 

 prevented (See Nougareti 4) as such debris is often a source from which 

 they start their attacks. 



A cknoK'lcdr/emcn ts. 



The writer wishes to acknowledge the kindness of Dr. T. E. Snyder and 

 Dr. W. M. Mann, of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, for identifying or 

 verifying the identification of all termites and ants mentioned in this paper. 



SiMnmari/. 



1. Two species of termites RefwuHtermes floripes Kollar and ReticuUter- 

 mcH virghiicus Banks are known to occur in Indiana. A third species 

 Rcticiilitcrmes hageni Banks will probably also be found in this State. 



2. The interesting phenomenon of the annual swarming of the winged 

 cohmizing adults of R. flavipes occurs indoors as early as February 

 29th. Out-of-doors it occurs over a period of over a month. April 21st 

 to June 3rd. The swarming of R. rirginiciis takes place out-of-doors a 

 month later than that of 7?,. flavipcx. 



o. Sparrows iind ants have been ol>served preying on these winged cohin- 

 izing males and females. 



4. Termites damage buildings and their contents and their attacks on 

 living plants are increasing. This is the way that termites are adapt- 

 ing themselves to the advance of civilization which has resulted in the 

 removal of much of their food, such as logs and stumps. 



Litryaliin Cited. 



1. Banks. N. and Snyder, T. E. A Kevision of the Neartic Termites with 



Notes on Biology and Geographic Distribution U. S. Natl. Mus. 

 Bui. 108 (Febr. 15. 1920). 



2. Ho]>kins. A. I). Periodical Events and Natural Law as Guides to 



Agricultural Research and Practice. Mo. Weather Review Supp. 

 No. 9. Weather Bur. No. 643 U. S. Dept. Agr. May 1, 1920. 



3. The Bioclimatic Lav^- as Applied to Entomological Research and 



Farm Practice. Sc. Monthly Vol. VIII, No. G, June, 1919. 



4. Nougaret. It. L. A Termite Pest of Vineyards Mo. Bull. Cal. St. Dept. 



Agr. Vol. IX, No. 8 (Aug. 1920). 



