78 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 



Fig. 74. — Termes fla- 

 vi/es, worker. 



and of the form represented in Fig. 74. These are named the 

 workers, for upon them devolve nearly all the labors 

 of the colony. They may be looked upon as indi- 

 viduals, whose physical, and especially sexual, devel- 

 opment has been checked while yet nymphae and 

 never carried farther. But the development of their 

 instinctive powers is truly remarkable ; for it is this 

 caste that builds the nests, collects the provisions, 

 and cares for the young. A study of the internal 

 anatomy of workers has shown that both sexes are 

 represented in this caste; the reproductive organs 

 are, however, but little developed. 

 Associated with the workers, and resembling them in color and 

 in being wingless, there occur numerous representatives of another 

 caste, which can be recognized by the enormous size of their heads 

 (Fig. 75). These are the soldiers. Upon this caste 

 devolves the protection of the colony. And they are 

 well adapted for this work, their powerfully developed 

 mandibles rendering them formidable creatures. We 

 find among the soldiers, as among the workers, both 

 sexes represented. In some species the male and 

 female soldiers differ externally, so that they can be 

 distinguished without dissection. But here, as with 

 the workers, the reproductive organs are rudimen- 

 tary. 



At a certain season of the year, late spring 

 or early summer for our common species, there 

 can be found in the nests winged individuals; 

 these are the males and females. These differ greatly in appear- 

 ance from the workers and soldiers. In our species, Termes ftd- 

 vipes, they are black or dark chestnut in color ; the body measures 

 5 mm. (0.2 in.) in length ; while the wings expand 16 mm. (0.63 in.). 

 The wings when not in use are placed lengthwise upon the back, 

 and project more than half their length beyond the end of the body. 

 The two pairs of wings are of nearly equal size, and are furnished 

 with numerous veins. In May or June these winged males and 

 females leave the nest in a body. Sometimes clouds of them ap- 

 pear. After flying a greater or less distance they alight on the 

 ground, and then shed their wings. At this time the males seek 

 the females, seizing hold of them with their mandibles ; but it is 

 believed that pairing does not take place till a later period. The 



Fig. 75. — Termes fla- 

 vipes, soldier. 



