47 8 



are responsible, especially the species Calotermes domcsticus, for the 

 bulk of the damage done to buildings by white ants. A large 

 number of the species of Termes build small spherical nests in 

 trees or shrubs at varying heights from the ground and are of 

 little or no importance from an agricultural point of view. 



The following species are the only ones which are at all common 

 on rubber estates, and may, it is hoped, be recognised by the 

 following key, which is based on the characters of the soldiers, 

 derived in the main from Dr. Haviland's classical paper on the 

 subject. 



III. — Key to Commoner Species of Termites. 



I. Lobes of the thorax projecting 

 over the underparts ; head large and 

 broad with powerful mandibles; legs 

 projecting beyond the apex of the 

 abdomen*. Fungus growers. 



(i.) General colour above blackish 

 (ii.) General colour pale with rufous 

 head — 

 {a) Size larger ; 



segments 

 (b) Size smaller: 

 segments 



II. Lobes of tin- 

 but slightly over the 

 with a large foramen (hole) secreting 

 milky fluid; mandibles fairly long but 

 slender; outline of body oblong, head 



antenna with 17 

 antennae with 15 



thorax projecting 

 underparts ; head 



Termes carbonarius. 



Termes malayanus. 

 Termes pallid us. 



rufous, abdomen white, sometimes grey 

 from intestinal contents 



III. Lobes of the thorax not project- 

 ing; species usually of a small size; 

 abdomen arched — 



(i.) With slender mandibles; abdo- 

 men sulphur yellow ... 

 (ii.) Mandibles rudimentary; with a 

 conical projection on head : 

 general colour blackish 

 brown — 



(a) Head much swollen 



(b) Head but slightly swollen 



IV. 



Termes gestrot. 



'Termes sitlp/uireits. 



Termes lacessitus. 

 Termes itmbriiius. 



Description of Species and their Nests. 



Termes Carbonarius. 



This is one of the largest species of termites and is by no means 

 uncommon both in jungle country on land overgrown with lalang. 

 and on abandoned tapioca estates, where it forms nests four or 

 live feet high. It occasionally attacks coconuts, but does not do 



