Apr. 1922] STUDIES in termite control 5 



Introduction. 



Termites are a destructive group of insects which attack beams, foun- 

 dation timbers, flooring, wood partitions and in fact all sorts of wood products 

 to which they can gain access. They have a record of serious damage at 

 various points in New Hampshire, and their work is of such a nature that 

 in the majority of cases it is not discovered until a building is moved or torn 

 down, or until repairs are instituted. Even then the damage is frequently 

 ascribed to "dry rot." 



In the tropics there are many species of termites but in New Hampshire, 

 so far as is known, only one species is found, Leucotermes flavipes Roller. In 

 the southern half of New Hampshire this insect is known to have caused 

 serious damage in public buildings, farm houses, barns and other structures. 



A familiar name for termites is "white ants." They are not really ants 

 but they resemble them strongly in their superficial characters and, in ad- 

 dition, they have a community life which is similar in many respects to those 

 of some of our common species of true ants. 



Unlike ants, however, the great majority of termites are white in color, 

 are sensitive to light, which they shun, and are bUnd. They live in colonies 

 and within each colony there are various castes or specialized groups adapted 

 for particular duties. The largest number of individuals in a colony are 

 the workers. These are either male or female, but are undeveloped or im- 

 mature sexually and remain so throughout their life. Within each colony 

 there will be found, also, a considerable number of individuals, each with 

 an elongated head armed with a pair of long jaws shaped like cutlasses. 

 These individuals are known as "soldiers" and are supposed to serve as 

 protectors of the colony. Also within a colony will be found one pair or 

 more of mature kings and queens and frequently various additional or sup- 

 plementary queens. 



Life in the colony is complicated, as with other highly specialized, social 

 insects. The workers forage for food, which they find by traveling some- 

 times to a distance of many yards in underground galleries. They always 

 work concealed. Timbers will be hollowed out inside, but a thin outer shell 

 will always be left untouched. To outward appearances a beam that is 

 completely destroyed inside may look to be quite sound. Sometimes colonies 

 will cover a considerable area, amounting to many square yards. Usually 

 it is very difficult to find out where the center or centers of the colony may 

 be located. When compelled to cross a space into which they cannot burrow, 

 as for instance a concrete wall, termites will build a gallery, or enclosed 

 runway, within which they travel back and forth in darkness and security. 



Outside of heated buildings the activities of termites cease during cold 

 weather. Thus, a colony located in a stump or within rotted wood in the 

 heart of an old apple tree may become totally inactive during cold weather. 

 But within heated buildings activity may go on continuously. 



Once a year, probably in June in the latitude of southern New Hampshire, 

 there is a flight of specially developed winged termites. These individuals 

 are brown in color, are not sensitive to Ught and have functioning eyes as 



