94 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science. 
The third report of termite injury came from Indianapolis on August 
27th. A backyard gardener wondering why his sweet corn did not yield 
as it should dug up some of the plants and found the lower parts heavily 
infested with termites (See Plate II, B.). Over 150 feet of row were thus 
damaged. Specimens submitted were R. flavipes Wollar. 
Taken as a whole over the United States termite injury to living plants 
seems to be increasing due no doubt to the fact that their homes, such as 
logs and stumps, are rapidly disappearing because of the practice of clean 
cultivation. As a result the termites are forced to seek elsewhere for suffi- 
cient food and their attacks on living plants are one way that they are 
meeting the exigency. On the other hand it should be pointed out that 
keeping areas on which plants are grown free from decaying wood and 
other debris on which termites can exist is necessary if damage is to be 
prevented (See Nougareti 4) as such debris is often a source from which 
they start their attacks. 
Acknowledgements. 
The writer wishes to acknowledge the kindness of Dr. T. E. Snyder and 
Dr. W. M. Mann, of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, for identifying or 
verifying the identification of all termites and ants mentioned in this paper. 
Summary. 
1. Two species of termites Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar and Reticuliter- 
mes virginicus Banks are known to occur in Indiana. A third species 
Reticulitermes hageni Banks will probably also be found in this State. 
The interesting phenomenon of the annual swarming of the winged 
colonizing adults of R. flavipes occurs indoors as early as February 
29th. Out-of-doors it occurs over a period of over a month, April 21st 
to June 3rd. The swarming of R. virginicus takes place out-of-doors a 
month later than that of R. flavipes. 
3. Sparrows and ants have been observed preying on these winged colon- 
izing males and females. 
4. Termites damage buildings and their contents and their attacks on 
living plants are increasing. This is the way that termites are adapt- 
ing themselves to the advance of civilization which has resulted in the 
removal of much of their food, such as logs and stumps. 
lo 
Literature Cited. 
1. Banks, N. and Snyder, T. E. A Revision of the Neartic Termites with 
Notes on Biology and Geographic Distribution U. 8S. Natl. Mus. 
Bul. 108 (Febr. 15, 1920). 
2. Hopkins, A. D. Periodical Events and Natural Law as Guides to 
Agricultural Research and Practice. Mo. Weather Review Supp. 
No. 9. Weather Bur. No. 643 U. S. Dept. Agr. May 1, 1920. 
». ——— The Bioclimatic Law as Applied to Entomological Research and 
Farm Practice. Sc. Monthly Vol. VIII, No. 6, June, 1919. 
4. Nougaret, R. L. A Termite Pest of Vineyards Mo. Bull. Cal. St. Dept. 
Agr. Vol. IX, No. 8 (Aug. 1920). 
