TERMITES. 



23l 



effectual if iutroduced in small quantities to the irrigation water. The 

 simplest procedure is to put a bag- of the solid^ or a tin of the liquid in 

 the water channel so that a small proportion is carried along- with the 

 water. This is a practice in Gujarat where a mixture of akh {Calotropis), 

 hhunani (Niger seed), nim cake {Melia azaclirachta) and castor cake is 

 placed in the irrigation channel in the belief that the white-ants will not 

 attack the chillies. 



In some cases nothing can be done to discover or destroy the nests 

 of the termites, and no certain method has yet been found of driving 

 away the pest. Good results have been obtained with a top dressing of 

 manure, but the best application has not yet been found nor have the 

 results been suiBciently vmiform to give reliable methods. It is probable 

 that methods based on this or a similar principle will prove to be effectual 

 in temporarily checking the ravages of white-ants in growing crops and 

 we may hope eventually to be able to free land from termites wholly or 

 for long periods. 



(6) Trees that are infested with white-ants can be temporarily cured 

 by the application of kerosene to the bark, or of kerosene emulsion, 

 tobacco decoction, soap solution, etc., to the roots. In Gujarat mango- 

 trees are painted with red ochre (oxide of iron) called geru^ to deter 

 white-ants from attacking the trunks. Good results are reported from 

 the Central Provinces in the treatment of white-ant-infested trees 

 with Gondal fluid, and better results have recently been obtained with 

 sanitary fluid. 



(7) Termites are attracted by farmyard or stable manure that is dry 

 or insufficiently rotted. The digging into the ground of improperly 

 prepared farmyard manure is a source of white-ant attacks^ the insects 

 coming first to feed on the manure and when that is exhausted attacking 

 the roots of plants. When termites are prevalent the greatest care should 

 be taken to apply only Avell rotted manure. 



Injurious Ants. 



At least one species of true ant is known to attack healthy living 

 plants both in Ceylon and India. This is the common blind brown ant,^ 

 of which the enormous male, as large as and similar to a wasp, comes 

 into houses at night, attracted by the light.^ The nest is underground, 

 the workers behaving like termites and tunnelling through the soil to 

 the roots of plants. We have been able to confirm the observations of 



^ 221. Dorylus orUntalis. VVestw. (FormicidEe.) 

 * See figures 54*53 of D. Idliatus. 



