NO. 12 ADAPTATIONS TO SOCIAL LIFE — SNYDER II 



25 mm. in length. Some species of Anoploterm-cs which are of sub- 

 terranean habit build termitariums of soft earth-like substance (pi. 

 3. %• 13) ; others are of hard texture. 



CONCLUSION 



It has been seen that the " adaptations "of termites to social life 

 can be most readily traced in their reactions to the fundamental 

 biological phenomena — hunger, sex, and fear. In fact, their colonial 

 life has led or permitted individuals to become specialized for these 

 primary purposes. 



Social life through hunger impulses has led termites from a pure 

 diet of wood (with protozoa in the guts necessary to the digestive 

 processes) to several specialized foods solicited from each other 

 and even to cultivate mushrooms and exudate-secreting insects ; 

 protozoa are then no longer necessary. 



Among termites social life has led to unique expressions of sex 

 urge. There is no nuptial flight where one male fertilizes one female 

 at sacrifice of his life in the termites. There is a colonizing flight 

 of an enormous number of males and females (large numbers of 

 both sexes fail to survive) the male lives a long life with the female, 

 and there is repeated fertilization. The progeny is composed of fertile 

 and sterile forms, in definite relative ratios. A remarkable post- 

 adult growth takes place in the queen, and she loses her power of 

 locomotion. Several wingless reproductive forms have developed. 

 Even the winged caste loses its strong power of flight and a suture 

 has developed for the easy shedding of the wings after the flight. 

 Polygamy and promiscuity result from communal life. 



Social life has led or forced termites through fear, or desire for 

 protection, to a subterranean existence ; strong mound or carton nests 

 have been developed, sometimes in trees, while carton shelter tubes 

 have been utilized to cover forays above ground. As a result the 

 eyes and color have been lost in the neuters and lost or reduced in 

 the wingless reproductive forms ; they either have become strongly 

 negatively phototropic or thus merely avoid desiccation. 



A wonderfully varied specialization is shown in the development 

 of dififerent types of mandibles and openings for the frontal gland, 

 and a diverse polymorphism has developed among the neuters. 

 Finally the soldier caste is lost in Anoplotermes. 



