PSEUDOXEUROPTERA. 8 1 



worker, can be found in a nest at the same time. At certain sea- 

 sons of the year the nymphs of the kings and queens are present, 

 and can be distinguished by their wing-pads of greater or less length. 



Tcnncs flaripcs is common throughout the Eastern United States; 

 and it is the only species which occurs in this region. The workers 

 when full grown measure about 4 mm. (0.16 in.) in length, and are 

 of the form shown in Fig. 74. The soldiers are somewhat larger ; 

 one is represented in Fig. 75. The winged males and females 

 are described above; they are often found in nests before they 

 have swarmed out, and swarms of them are frequently seen. Hut, 

 notwithstanding the abundance of nests of this species, the laying 

 queen has never been found. A specimen supposed to be a queen 

 was collected in Florida by Mr. Hubbard, and is in the Museum 

 of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge ; but this is believed by 

 Dr. Hagen to be merely a complemental female. 



Tcnnes fldvipcs is not a mound-builder. It makes its nests in old 

 logs, in stumps, in the ground under stones or other objects, and in 

 buildings or other wooden structures. It usually infests decaying 

 wood in the fields or forests; but I have known of several instances 

 where it has done serious injury to buildings ; and I have also found 

 it infesting living plants. This habit of infesting growing plants is 

 manifested chiefly in the Southern States; but it has been observed 

 also in New England. I found the white-ants common throughout 

 Florida, infesting orange-trees, guava-bushes, and sugar-cane. In 

 this State these insects are generally recognized as important p 

 They are there known as " wood-lice," a name whose use is to be 

 deprecated, as it tends to create confusion. 



When white-ants infest living plants, they attack that part which 

 is at or just below the surface of the ground. In the CESC of pampas- 



! the base of the stalk is hollowed; with woody plant-, 

 orange-trees and guava-bushes, tin- hark of the base of the trim 



:ently the tl omplctcly girdled; with Migar- 



cane the most s,-rious injury is the destruction of the scc< 



ntfl may tfOycd by water heated Mifhuently to 



kill the , ithout injury to the infested plants. In the case of 



oran much can 1 to prevent the attacks of t 



My experience coin i that it is those tree the 



crown of whose toots the soil h .< : ><-d that < t liable 



tobecomci; h; tl should be taken to 



h soil im: tch cultivation "t the grove, leavm- the 



crown of th' It is also important t old 



