THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



For the information of those non-scientific readers, who are not conversant 

 with the classificatory systems adopted by entomologists for the distinction of the 

 leading groups and orders of the insect world, it may be stated that the so-called 

 White Ants, or Termites, are not true ants in the scientific sense of the term. For, 

 while the typical ants belong to that order, the Hymenoptera, which notably includes 

 the wasps, bees and. ichneumon-flies, the White Ants have, up to within a recent 

 date, been regarded as modified representatives of the Neuroptera, an order typically 

 illustrated by the Dragon-flies, Ant-lions and Lace-wing-flies. According to the 

 latest researches many entomologists regard them as representing an independent 

 group, occupying a structural position midway between the Neuroptera and the 

 Orthoptera or Cockroach and Cricket tribe. 



As with the Hymenopterous groups of the Bees and Ants, the Termites form 

 large social communities. These, however, are frequently made up of a greater 

 number of specially modified individuals than obtains in either of the two above- 

 named tribes. As demonstrated by the investigations of Dr. Fritz Mliller with 

 reference to the European species, Termes hicifugus, no less than eleven diverse 

 individual types may be found inhabiting the same nest. These include : 1, the 

 youngest larvse, which in their earliest condition present no recognisable distinctions ; 

 2, the semi-matured larvae of the soldiers ; 3, adult soldiers ; 4, semi-matured larvae 

 of workers ; 5, adult workers ; 6, nymphs (with imperfect wings) of the first order 

 developing to kings and queens ; 7, king ; 8, queen ; 9, nymphs of the second order 

 developing to supplementary males and females ; 10, adult supplementary males ; 

 11, adult supplementary females. It would appear, however, that all of these individual 

 types are not developed in every Termite community. In some of those examined by 

 Dr. Mttller a single presiding king and queen were wanting and their place supplied 

 by a number of supplementary males and egg-producing females. 



According to the more recent researches of Grassi it is possible to recognise 

 as many even as fifteen distinct individual modifications ; the four added to 

 Fritz Muller's list including extra substitution forms of kings and queens or so-called 

 "neoteinic" individuals in both their immature and matured conditions. 



The woodcut illustrations reproduced on the next page, chiefly from M. Grassi's 

 Memoir, portray all of the more important of the individual types recognisable in a 

 Termite community. As a rule, on breaking into a large termitarium or laying open 

 the Termites' excavations in wood or other substances, the only individuals con- 

 spicuously represented belong to the two categories of the ordinary workers and 



