102 THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 
For the information of those non-scientific readers, who are not conversant 
with the classificatory systems adopted by entomologists for the distinction of the 
leading groups and orders of the insect world, it may be stated that the so-called 
White Ants, or Termites, are not true ants in the scientific sense of the term. For, 
while the typical ants belong to that order, the Hymenoptera, which notably includes 
the wasps, bees and ichneumon-flies, the White Ants have, up to within a recent 
date, been regarded as modified representatives of the Neuroptera, an order typically 
illustrated by the Dragon-flies, Ant-lions and Lace-wing-flies. According to the 
latest researches many entomologists regard them as representing an independent 
group, occupying a structural position midway between the Neuroptera and the 
Orthoptera or Cockroach and Cricket tribe. 
As with the Hymenopterous groups of the Bees and Ants, the Termites form 
large social communities. These, however, are frequently made up of a greater 
number of specially modified individuals than. obtains in either of the two above- 
named tribes. As demonstrated by the investigations of Dr. Fritz Miiller with 
reference to the European species, Termes lucifugus, no less than eleven diverse 
individual types may be found inhabiting the same nest. These include: 1, the 
‘youngest larvee, which in their earliest condition present no recognisable distinctions ; 
2, the semi-matured larve of the soldiers; 3, adult soldiers; 4, semi-matured larvee 
of workers ; 5, adult workers; 6, nymphs (with imperfect wings) of the first order 
developing to kings and queens; 7, king; 8, queen; 9, nymphs of the second order 
developing to supplementary males and females; 10, adult supplementary males; 
11, adult supplementary females. It would appear, however, that all of these individual 
types are not developed in every Termite community. In some of those examined by 
‘Dr. Miiller a single presiding king and queen were wanting and their place supplied 
by a number of supplementary males and egg-producing females. 
According to the more recent researches of Grassi it is possible to recognise 
as many even as fifteen distinct individual modifications; the four added to 
Fritz Miiller’s list including extra substitution forms of kings and queens or so-called 
“neoteinic ” individuals in both their immature and matured conditions. 
The woodcut illustrations reproduced on the next page, chiefly from M. Grassi’s 
Memoir, portray all of the more important of the individual types recognisable in a 
Termite community. As a rule, on breaking into a large termitarium or laying open 
the Termites’ excavations in wood or other substances, the only individuals con- 
spicuously represented belong to the two categories of the ordinary workers and 
