56 JOURNAL OF THE [April, 



THE TERMITES, OR SO-CALLED "WHITE ANTS" 

 OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



BY p. H. DUDLEY, C. E. 

 {J?ead December 2ist, iSSS.) 



The destruction of wood-work by the Termites in tropical 

 countries, especially where great humidity exists, is well known 

 to you all. The fact does not make so much impression upon 

 us at this distance, as it does when we go and see the evidences 

 of their destruction. Structures made from the softer woods 

 can be readily eaten, while those made from the harder woods 

 can be eaten as soon as the tissues are softened by decay, caused 

 by the rapid growth of fungi. 



How to protect the wood of buildings, cars, furniture, and 

 other structures from the combined attacks of Termites and 

 fungi is a complicated problem in many tropical countries. In 

 many portions of India the English, in building railways, found 

 the destruction of ties so rapid, even after treatment to check 

 decay, that metal was substituted for wood. Several engineers, 

 who were employed on the Indian railways, in describing the 

 destruction of ties to me, attributed it mostly to the Termites. 

 I should qualify that opinion to some extent, and think the 

 growth of fungi had much to do with the rapid destruction of 

 ties, notwithstanding their treatment. The treatment of wood 

 for use in tropical countries, must be much more thorough than 

 that for service in colder countries. The fibres of the entire 

 stick must be treated.' 



' Since this Paper was read Mr. Frank Passmore, Civil Engineer of London, 

 formerly in charge of the construction of some of the Indian railways, called upon 

 me. He said, with regard to the destruction of .sleepers by the Termites on the Indian 

 railways under his charge, " The sleepers were creosoted in London. The creosote 

 only penetrated from one-half to one inch in the sides of the sleepers. On the ends 

 the penetration was much greater. The ties failed bj^ the decay of the internal, 

 untreated'portions, and the attacks of Termites, the latter entering through some 

 crevice of the treated wood to those portions wliich were untreated, soon rendering 

 them unserviceable." 



Explanation of Plate 17. 



F^-agment cut from interior of nest of EtUermes, showing transverse section of 

 queen-cell, and also sections of numerous passages for the workers. (Natural size.) 



