TERMITES IN THE CANAL ZONE AND PANAMA. 9 



vegetation, woodwork of structures, and lead-sheathed cables. A 

 white, thick liquid is secreted from the frontal gland opening in the 

 head of the soldiers which serves as an effective material of defense. 



On July 26, 1921, Zetek collected soldiers and workers in galleries 

 on the trunk of a black palm at La Loceria, Tumba Muerta Road 

 (near Corundu River), near Panama City. These galleries were 

 made of red earth and were thick, rough looking, flat, baked from 

 the heat, and cracked; the main ones were from 4 to 8 inches wide 

 and about one-half to three-fourths inch thick. From the main 

 galleries smaller ones branched off. The termites were in the wood 

 of the palm tree also. The soldiers when uncovered stood their 

 ground and made lively jerky movements. 



On October 26, 1921, Zetek and Molino found soldiers and workers 

 of Coptotermes niger on and in the trunk of an unknown tree at 

 Ancon Hospital. The galleries consisted of a main one one-fourth 

 to five-sixteenths inch wide, of earth, firm in texture, beginning 

 at the earth surface and reaching to about 2 feet above, then bifur- 

 cating, one branch leading to one " seminest," 5 the other to another 

 one. These "seminests" were of earth, with galleries, firm, about 2 

 inches by 4 inches in size, and extending about 1 inch into the wood. 

 Many soldiers but few workers were present in the tunnels and wood. 

 Several small " seminests " of earth, hard and brittle, were found in 

 small hollows in the trunk of a " mamey de tierra " tree {Lueuma 

 mammosa Gaertn.), at Ancon Hospital on this same day by Zetek 

 and Molino. These nests were about 2 inches to 3 inches by 1 inch 

 to 2 inches thick, and from them tunnels extended into the wood of 

 the trunk. Scratching the bark of the tree brought out the soldiers. 



INJURY TO LEAD-SHEATHED CABLES IN THE LOCKS OF THE PANAMA CANAL. 



On November 7, 1921, Zetek and Molino collected specimens of 

 Coptotermes niger in the center wall of Miraflores Locks, Canal 

 Zone. The insects had eaten into the lead sheathing of the duplex 

 cables. This damage to the lead was first noted about November 1, 

 when the telephone servic£ was unsatisfactory. R. S. Mills, acting 

 assistant superintendent of the Pacific locks, then in charge of the 

 Miraflores section, and E. St. Clair Clayton, one of the operators in 

 the control house at the Miraflores Locks, are responsible for calling 

 attention to this injury and for helping in every possible way to 

 get data, specimens of the insects and of the damaged cables, and 

 photographs (Pis. V and VI) . M. N. Shaw, cable splicer, first found 

 this infestation about three weeks before the date (November 7, 

 1921) mentioned above. No positive data as to money value of the 

 loss could be obtained. Fifty feet of duplex lead-covered cable had 

 to be replaced and the cost of the cable, the salary and time of the 

 cable splicer, etc.. would easily amount to $100. 



No. 12 stranded rubber and lead-covered duplex 600-volt cable is 

 used for telephone service; for ringing, 110 volts 25-cycle alternating 

 current is used; for talking, 24-volt battery current is used. 



An 8-conductor braided and rubber-insulated lead-covered control 

 cable, carrying 220 volts, 25-cycle, alternating current, was also at- 



5 Coptotermes niger does not construct regular external nests as do some termites, but 

 builds earthlike nests in hollows in wood, as well as honeycombing the wood, in a man- 

 ner similar to that of species of Retieulitermes. 



