TERMITIDAE 38 1 



is usuallj' due to the growth of eggs inside the body, or to the 

 repletion of otlaer parts. But in Termitidae there exists post- 

 metamorphic growth of an extensive and complex nature ; this 

 growth does not affect the sclerites (i.e. the hard chitinoUs parts 

 of the exo-skeleton), which remain of the size they were when the 

 post-metamorphic growth commenced, and are consequently mere 

 islands in the distended abdomen (Fig. 236, B, C). The growth 

 is chiefly due to a great increase in number and size of the egg- 

 tubes, but there is believed to be a correlative increase of various 

 other parts of the abdominal as distinguished from the anterior 

 regions of the body. A sketch of the distinctions existing 

 between a female of a species at the time of completion 

 of the metamorphosis and at the period of maximum fertility 

 does not appear to have been yet made. 



New Communities. — The progress of knowledge in respect of 

 Termitidae is bringing to light a quite unexpected diversity of 

 habits and constitution. Hence it is premature to generalise on 

 important matters, but we may refer to certain points that 

 have been ascertained in connexion with the formation of new 

 communities. The duration of particular communities and the 

 modes in which new ones are founded are still very obscure. 

 It was formerly considered that swarming took place in 

 order to increase the number of communities, and likewise for 

 promoting crossing between the individuals of different com- 

 munities. Grassi, however, finds as the result of his prolonged 

 observations on Termes hicifugus that the swarms have no further 

 result than that the individuals composing them are eaten up. 

 And Fritz Miiller states ^ that in the case of the great majority 

 of forms known to him the founding of a colony by means 

 of a pair from a swarm would be just about as practicable 

 as to establish a new colony of human beings by placing a 

 couple of newly-born babes on an uninhabited island. It was 

 also thought that pairs, after swarming, re-entered the nests 

 and became royal couples. It does not, however, appear that 

 any one is able to produce evidence of such an occurrence. The 

 account given by Smeathman of the election of a royal couple 

 of Termes bellicosus is imperfect, as, indeed, has already been 

 pointed out by Hagen. It suggests, however, that a winged 

 pair after leaving the nest do again enter it to become king 



' Jena. Zeitschr. Naiurw. vii. 1873, p. 458. 



