33 



round to the extremity into an auger-shaped tip. They measure J of an 

 inch in length; the worker a little less, but stouter in proportion. The 

 soldiers are very few in proportion to the workers and seldom show fight, 

 hiding as soon as exposed. 



The Common White Ant (Termes australis, Walker). 



The soldier of this species is unknown, as they were described by 

 Walker from winged specimens collected, probably round a lamp. Ob- 

 tained in South Australia. 



The winged forms are light ferruginous, with darker heads, measuring 

 \ an inch to the tip of the wings. 



Walker described workers and soldiers as belonging to this species, but 

 Hagen, who examined the types, says that they did not belong to the 

 winged termite, but were Calofermes. I have not been able to discover the 

 nest of this species. 



Genus II. — Coptotermes. 



This genus Avas created by Wasmann to contain a species of white ant 

 closely allied to the members of the genus Termes, but furnished with an 

 opening in front of the head above the labrum and jaws, through which 

 the soldier can discharge a fluid like Eutermes, though at the same time 

 possessing the powerful curved fighting jaws of the typical termes. 



In other habits they agree with the first genus of this division, building 

 large termitaria, and living in large communities, with large numbers 

 of soldiers. Three species are known in Australia, among them our com- 

 monest mound-building species. 



Synoptical table based on structure of head of soldier. 



1. Coptoter?nes lacteus. Head pear-shaped; jaws large, sabre-shaped, 



untoothed; labrum pointed ; antennae 16-jointed ; frontal open- 

 ing distinct but not projecting. 



2. Coptotermes acinaciformis. Head broader behind; larger jaws, 



similar; antennae 17-jointed; frontal opening situated at ex- 

 tremity of forehead, above the jaws, which are contracted. 



3. Coptotermes rafferyi. Head smaller than last; antennae 15-jointed; 



closely allied. 



The Milk White Ant {Coptotermes [Termes] lacteus, Froggatt). 



This species was first described under the name of Termes lactis by nie 

 in the Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales, p. 297, with plate, in May, 

 1897, and later on in the same year a technical description was given in 

 the " Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales." 



It is the common species in Australia that is responsible for nearly all 



the damage done to houses ; I have never found any other species of this 



genus in houses, but one or two species of the allied Eutermes often get into 



fences and outside woodwork in the bush. It is rather curious that while 



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