THE INSECT WORLD. 



65 



ing their galleries through the soil, often for great distances, and 

 also inhabiting underground chambers. 



In woodland almost any log or decaying tree will be found 

 swarming with these dirty yellowish-white insects, about one- 

 fourth of an inch long, readily recognizable by their large heads 

 and oval, obtusely- 

 terminated abdomen. I^'g. 35. 

 They are wingless, and 

 when exposed to light 

 seek at once to make 

 their way back into 

 darkness. These are 

 workers, and blind ; 

 they never voluntarily 

 come out of their gal- 

 leries, all their wander- 

 ing being in tunnels of 

 enormous length run 

 over or under ground 

 in every direction from 

 the main nest. If they 

 must reach a point 

 to which they cannot 



burrow, they build a covered way of earth mixed with saliva, 

 woody and excrementitious matter. These workers are the most 

 familiar to the casual observer, and form much the greater pro- 

 portion of the inhabitants of a nest or colony. They have distinct, 

 hard, brown mandibles, not excessive in size, and can be thus 

 readily distinguished from the soldiers, which are larger, with 

 proportionately larger heads and very largely developed mandi- 

 bles. The soldiers form a standing army whose duty it is to 

 protect the community ; therefore, if we disturb a colony the 

 workers at once run away, leaving the field to the soldiers, wli 

 are impotent enough in the daylight, blindly gnashing their jaw 

 but are no doubt useful in the ordinary routine of Termite lif 

 Early in spring we find, in addition, larger, winged individual . 

 chestnut-brown in color, and these are the true sexed forms, 

 male and female. On a bright, warm day, when spring is well 

 advanced, these individuals, which by the bye are furnished 



5 



Tt'rmes flavipes. — a, larva; b, winged male; 

 d, soldier: e, female;/', pupa. 



worker: 



