SOME TROUBLESOME INVADERS 



367 



definite is known about it. Probably the usual way of 

 founding new colonies is by the division of old ones by 

 the transportation in a log or piece of wood of a part of 

 a colony. 



Food and injuries. — The food of white ants consists, 

 usually, of dead or decaying wood or other vegetable 

 matter. They usually, at least our native species, select 

 moist wood or books or papers stored in moist situations. 



Fig. 128. — Winged male termite, enlarged. 



Their food seems to consist of what they are able to extract 

 from the finely divided materials formed in excavating 

 their tunnels. Moreover, they consume the cast skins 

 of the developing members and even devour certain super- 

 fluous individuals of the colony. Unfortunately, white 

 ants do not always confine themselves to dead or decaying 

 wood. 



These insects were first brought forcibly to the atten- 

 tion of the author by their destruction of seedling pecan 

 trees in the nursery row in Mississippi. The particular 



