370 GERALD F. HILL. 



queen cell. The true queen produces an enormous number of eggs, which are carried 

 away by the workers and stored in masses in cells near the walls or near the queen- 

 cell. Egg-laying is not confined to one particular season of the year, but it is not a 

 continuous process, since eggs are often absent in certain thriving colonies while 

 present in great numbers in others close by. Neoteinic queens are substituted for 

 a true queen when a colony is naturally or designedly orphaned. In one colony 

 a true king was found in a large cell with one ovigerous neoteinic queen ; in another 

 there were one true king and two of these neoteinics, in a third there were two neoteinics 

 only, and in a fourth one neoteinic king and two neoteinic queens. Neoteinic queens 

 of this species produce neoteinic males and females, as well as soldiers, workers, and 

 nymphs of the first and second form. 



The following field notes refer to termitaria of this species which have been kept 

 under observation for some time : — 



(1) This colony was orphaned on 22nd August 1919. When examined on 15th 

 June 1920, it contained 20 young neoteinics of both sexes. There were no eggs or 

 very young larvae present, but there were numerous half-grown larvae and second form 

 nymphs. On 26th October 1920, two ovigerous neoteinic queens and four neoteinic 

 males were removed from the nest. Eggs, young larvae and nymphs of the second 

 form were plentiful. Some of the latter and one young neoteinic female were left 

 in the nest, with workers and soldiers. By 15th Februarj' 1921, the termitarium 

 was again restored to its original size and presented a very prosperous appearance. 

 Eggs and young larvae were present, but no gravid female could be found. There 

 were no young neoteinics present, but the second form nymphs which were left in the 

 nest on the 26th October had now developed into nymphs of the first form. The 

 parent of the eggs and young larvae found on this date was presumed to be the young 

 neoteinic female left in the nest on 26th October. 



(2) This nest was orphaned on 15th June 1920. On 26th October 1920, it con- 

 tained four ovigerous neoteinics and nine immature neoteinic males and females. 

 There were present also numerous second form nymphs, besides the usual workers and 

 soldiers. The termitarium was now completely destroyed. On 15th February 1921, 

 the nest was found to have been rebuilt to its original size and to contain numerous 

 eggs, young larvae and nymphs of the second form. There were no nymphs of the 

 first form or imagines present and the parent of the eggs and young larvae was not 

 found. The whole termitarium was again destroyed, and on 18th March 1921 

 a good deal of it was found to have been rebuilt. 



Each of several other nests which were orphaned at different periods of the year 

 were found to contain neoteinic queens when examined subsequently. It has not 

 been ascertained if a colony once deprived of its true queen is ever again presided 

 over by another true queen ; the contrary appears to be the case. In nests which are 

 presided over by a true queen, or by one or more gravid neoteinics with numerous 

 neoteinics in reserve, nymphs of the second form are found throughout the year, except- 

 ing from the middle of December to the end of January. A moult takes place about the 

 former period, and the resulting first form nymphs have been found as late as 13th 

 February, but the majority undergo their final moult and appear as imagines about 

 the beginning of January, and all have moulted before the 8th March. When true 

 queens or mature neoteinic queens are not present, nymphs of the second form may 

 be present throughout the year. First form n^miphs have not been found later than 

 15th February or earlier than 5th November. The actual date of swarming is 

 determined by rainfall. In 1919-1920 first form nymphs were plentiful in the nests 

 on 5th November 1919 ; the final moult took place between this date and 8th 

 December, when most of the imagines were capable of flight, although some had not 

 yet moulted. On 6th January and 15th January (1920) first form nymphs and 

 imagines were still present in the nests. The former moulted before 30th January, 

 and swarming took place before 10th February. In 1921 the wings of the majority 



