WHITE ANTS IN JAPAN 



By MU NEMO TO UNO, Entomologist of Forest Experiment Station 



There are about 14 species of white ants known in Japan; they are 

 mostly found in the warmer parts, viz. in Ogasawara, Riukiu and Formosa. 

 Only three of these are found in the Main Island, Shikoku and Kiushu. 

 In the present treatise, we purpose to describe these insects to give their 

 life history and to consider the damage done by them. 



I. Leucotermes (Reticulitermes) speratus Kolbe 

 1. Description. 



Winged form: Length 4.5-6.5 mm. Body blackish brown; head 

 darker; legs and dorsal surface of the body lighter; pronotum, tibia and 

 tarsus light yellow; wings grayish. Head somewhat smooth and shining. 

 Body covered with short brownish hairs, sparsely on the head. Head 

 quadrate oval, longer than broad. Vertex transversely depressed anteriorly. 

 Front in the middle with a shallow longitudinal impression. Compound 

 eyes small; ocelli small, situated near the eyes. Basal portion of clypeus 

 short, distinctly limited. Antennae 17-jointed; third joint very short. 

 Pronotum narrower than the head, flat ; its anterior and posterior margins 

 have distinct incisions. Meso- and metanotum distinctly, but somewhat 

 broader posteriorly, with rectangular border. Wing membrane very strong- 

 ly reticulated; media simple in the middle portion between the radius 

 sector and cubitus; cubitus 7-10-branched. Cerci short. 



King: Length 5 mm similar to the winded form in color but with 

 no wing. 



Queen: Length 9.5 mm. Length of the abdomen 6.5 mm, width 

 2 mm. Head and thorax similar to the winged form. Abdomen light 

 brownish white; lateral surface with fine pubescence. 



Substitute queen: Length 5.5-7.3 mm. Width of the abdomen 

 1.5-2 mm. Whole body brownish or milky white. Compound eyes flat, 

 colorless, occasionally with trace of brownish pigment. Antennae 17- 

 jointed. Meso- and metanotum have short rudimentary wing sheath. 



