Pomona College Journal of Entomology 851 



wattles and feeding upon the (Jiilcr baiU of old peach trees and eucalypti. 

 It is this kind tluit (•oimnonly iittncks liuildiiiffs. Tlic luan'liinjr termite (llodo- 

 trrnics nidssdiiihicKx) is well known for the si)oiliiti(m of crops of growing 

 grain, wiiile the insidious termite (Tcniicn badius) is frequently guilty of 

 injury in eane-fields newly set out, althout;li no liarm is done to grown fields. 

 Other species wiiieh are more or less harmful are ('alotcnncs durbaucsis, T. 

 latericius, T. vulgaris T. incertns, T. parvus, T. bilobatus, Eutermes trinervius. 



Within the last twelve years there has arisen upon the town lands of 

 Pietermaritzhurg, a small suburb, and the whole of the area built over has 

 been inhabited by termites, presumably from time immemorial. It is estimated 

 that there are ninety-three nests per acre on this ground. The villas which 

 spread over this area are all of brick; many are especially constructed with 

 a view to circumventing white ant attack, and in most at least some measures 

 have been taken in that direction, but all suffer more or less. Amongst them is 

 a building upon raised Jarrah posts, and built of wood and iron; beneath 

 is a clear space of about two feet, and light and air penetrate freely under it. 

 This house has never been attacked, altliough on wooden posts, and it is 

 thought to be due to the fact that the ground underneath is dry, well venti- 

 lated and exposed to light, nuiking an environment wholly unsuited to the 

 tastes of the white ants. Mr. Puller cites eight other eases where the termites 

 had found their way into buildings through defects so slight as to entirely 

 escape the notice of the builders. Tliat such loopholes are found by termites 

 even where expensive precautions are taken is not altogether due to their 

 happening upon them in the course of their indeterminahle "voyages of 

 di.scovery, " but they are attracted along the directions which they take. Man's 

 ingenuity fails before those stimuli which impel the insect unerringly towards 

 a food supply almost as a moth is driven to the light, not consciously nor out 

 of curiosity, but because it cannot help itself. 



The attack of the insects upon fruit trees and in wattle and other jilanta- 

 tions is a conunon complaint. It is a curious fact that peach trees are not 

 eaten by Natal termites, and advantage has been taken of this to graft plums 

 upon peach roots. Plum, apricot, apple, and pear trees are very susceptible 

 to attack, while citrus trees and the more tropical fruits arc taken only under 

 exceptional circumstances. 



In preparing ground cither for building purposes or for agriculture it 

 has been foiuid that the termites can be eratlieated by forcing arsenic and 

 sulphur fumes into the nests. This must be done, however, before the ground 

 is disturbed. The same method is used but with less success in orchards and 

 plantations wiiere the termites become troublesome. When found in buildings, 

 carbon bisulfide repeatedly poured into nests whicli may be found beneath 

 houses or in the walls, has usually been successful in driving away the pests. 



Roy E. St. Gl.a,ir. 



