1S0PTERA. 541 



TERMITID/E. 

 ODONTOTERMES Sp. 



Under this name reference is made to the Termites — whether of 

 more than one species is uncertain, as is also the exact identity — 

 which commonly cover trees in the dry weather with sheets of mud 

 under cover of which they nibble off the outer bark. The direct 

 damage done is usually small although occasionally the Termites 

 may eat into the inner bark but it seems probable, in some cases at 

 least, that their attack may provide a means of entry for bacterial 

 diseases which may affect the trees more seriously. Various 

 mixtures are in common use for application to tree-trunks. 1 have 

 found a mixture of Crude-oil Emulsion and Tar (half and half) 

 eflfei tual for some months at least, and it is usually only during the 

 dry weather that trees are attacked. Pure Tar by itself willsome- 

 times injure the tree, as will kerosine-oil. Crude-oil Emulsion 

 (without Tar) may be applied in the case of young trees with 

 tender bark. 



The nest is below ground, the sponge-like fungus-combs being 

 found sometimes as far as twelve feet below the surface, but 

 usually in the first two or three below soil-level. The nests are not 

 marked by above-ground mounds and can rarely be located exactly. 

 (See also figure 32.) 



( 



1 * 



■ 16.— Outline I Odontotermes and (j) Micro- 



termes, showing 1 1 inal.) 



MICROTERMES Sp. 

 Under this name reference is n).\<\i- to those small Termites 

 which attack growing crops, particularly cereals and young plants. 

 These Termites are much smaller than the species of Odontotermes 

 and the soldiers have a relatively much smaller and weaker mandi- 

 bli ["heir nest^. which are in scattered colonies under the soil 



