154 BIOLOGY OF NORTH AUSTRALIAN TERMITES, 



Identification. — A comparison of a long series of soldiers and workers from 

 several localities near Townsville with co-types kindly placed at my disposal by 

 Professor Sjostedt, leaves little doubt in my mind as to the correctness of the 

 identification of the imago described in the preceding pages. In the colour, size 

 and form of the heads of soldiers I can find no differences whatever, but there 

 is a marked tendency in nearly all of my specimens to a coalescence of joints 

 three and four of the antennae. This is rare in Palm Island examples, but, 

 with few exceptions, it is the rule in all others. The workers appear to agree 

 in every detail. 



Biologj. 

 Terndtaria. — The termitaria are generally conical in shape, circular at the 

 base, sloping symmetrically on the sides to the bluntly pointed or rounded apex. 

 An average size nest measures about 15 inches in diameter at the base and about 

 18 to 20 inches in height. Larger nests, up to about 2 feet in height, are some- 

 times found. They appear to be constructed invariably on sandy, well-drained 

 open forest or scrub country, or on low sandy rises near the margin of plains 

 subjected to inundation. In the latter localities they are commonly found amongst 

 the stumps of Pandanus. The material used in the construction of these nests 

 appears to be composed entirely of sand firmly cemented together. In the older 

 nests the walls are fairly hard and solid, but in the majority the whole mass is 

 rather fragile and easily crumbled. The interior is composed of a multitude of 

 small passages and cells, which sometimes contain eggs and small stores of grass, 

 but are generally occupied exclusively by the insects. There is no well-defined 

 "nursery," and no queen cell in the superstructure. A queen has not been found, 

 but it is certain that -she is not domiciled above ground-level. Below the ter- 

 mitarium the earth is tunnelled out to a depth of about 18 inches, forming 

 galleries and cells similar to those above, and, doubtless, others for the accommo- 

 dation of the queen and young larvae. 



Prosperous colonies have been found in the walls of nests of Coptotermes 

 acinaciformis Frogg. on Magnetic Island, and, on many occasions, under logs 

 and in the soil on treeless grazing land near Townsville. The presence of the 

 latter are generally easily detected by numerous short covered-ways which are 

 constructed on the surface of the ground by foraging parties in search of food 

 (grass). An exit is first made by cutting a curved slit in the surface soil about 

 3 mm. wide by 10 mm. long which is then covered with an arched roof of particles 

 of sand cemented together. The covered-ways branch out in all directions to a 

 distance of a foot or more and afford protection for the working party. Food 

 appears to be gathered only at night. The undergTound nests of these colonies 

 have not been examined, but it is probable that they are extensive, since it is 

 definitely known that imagos are reared in them. 



Swarming. — Nymphs with well-developed wing-pads, and also some mature 

 imagos, were found in many nests on Magnetic Island on 26th November, 1920, 

 and near Pentland on 1st December, 1921, whilst many imagos were captured 

 at a lamp indoors in Townsville on 24th and 26th December, 1920, 15th and 

 21st January, 26th, 29tli, and 31st December, 1921. The nests which contained 

 nymphs and imagos on 26th November, 1920, contained none of these forms on 

 lOtb February, 1921. 



Locality. — The type locality is Yarrabah, near Cairns, N. Queensland. The 

 following additional N. Queensland localities may be added: — Palm Island, Mag'- 

 netie Island, Cape Cleveland, Townsville (G.F.H.) Proserpine (J. F. lUing- 

 worth), Pentland (G. F. Cook), Prairie (J. R. Chisholm). 



