146 



NATURAL HISTORY OF ARTHROPODS. 



Iker in Massachusetts. I have never seen the flight of such a swarm in the open 

 air, but Dr. Hagen notes an immense swarm of this species at Cambridge, Mass., on 

 the morning of May 19, 1878, forming a dark cloud. He adds that they were accom- 

 panied by fifteen different species of birds, some of which so gorged themselves with 

 these insects that they could not close their beaks. This swarm appeared early, as 

 Hagen observes that the white ant usually takes its flight in the middle of June. At 

 the same time or shortly before they begin to fly, many pupae may be found with the 

 wings in different stages of development. 



The most remarkable structures formed by white ants are the famous nests or 

 termitaries of Termes belKcosus of the west coast of Africa. These, from their 



Fig. 210. — White ants, a, b, Termes dims, male; c, head; d, e, worker; /, a, soldier, h, T. bellicostis, 

 worker; i, papa, k, T. regiiia, female, the abdomen distended with eggs. 



number and great size, appear like the villages of the natives. These white-ant hills 

 are said by Smeathman to be in the form of sugar-loaves, about ten or twelve feet high, 

 and are so solid that an ox can stand upon them. The exterior is one large, dome-like 

 shell, which is much stronger than the inside or habitable part ; the latter is divided 

 into a great number of apartments surrounding the royal chamber for the king and 

 queen ; these apartments serve as abodes for the young, as well as magazines, which 

 Smeathman " always found well filled with stores and provisions." 



In the accompanying figure, a and b represent the male, c the head, d and e the 

 worker, /"and g the soldier of Termes dims; h the worker, i the pupa of T. belUcosus; 

 and k the female of T. regina with her abdomen distended with eggs. Winged 

 females of T. belUcosus are found flying about at the beginning of the rainy season. 

 After being on the wing for a few hours they descend to the ground, certain of them 



