you on the spot about Termites (our worst enemy to Rubber) if 

 that is the name of the creature that kills and eats away the heart 

 of our healthiest and best Para Rubber trees. I have tried every- 

 thing that I could think of such as arsenic, sulphate of copper, 

 pheryl, tuba, kerosine oil and etc. etc., and no doubt I killed 

 millions of them; but in almost all cases to be replaced by others. 

 I almost gave it up in disgust for I was told by more than one 

 Scientist that the Queen of this creature was not to be found in 

 the mounds made by them as the ordinary big white ant is found : 

 however I decided to put on two of my best men to dig for them 

 with the result that each man averages ten queens per day, now 

 besides destroying the homes of millions of immature ants and 

 eggs such as I now send you : — 



3 Queens in a bottle marked Termite Queens. 



2 Combs (in box) containing eggs and young Ants. 



Small Eggs in a bottle (as small as fine sugar). 



It may possibly be said that they are not termites and it may be 

 true ; but one thing I am certain of and that is that they are identi- 

 cal with the creature that is now destroying our Rubber trees. 



The mounds in which I find what I now send you are raised 

 above the natural level of the ground from I to 2 feet and have no 

 outward signs that they are inhabited, some of the mounds have 

 been used and are now empty; but it is well to dig them all over 

 as if it does no other good it is at least good cultivation. 



When the mounds are inhabited the cells which are beautifully 

 plastered all round the inside to make them .vaterproof are, as a 

 rule, full of combs which contain thousands of immature young 

 ones and undeveloped eggs. 



In cells where I found the very small eggs like tine sugar there 

 is no comb, but only the eggs on the bottom of the cell just like 

 fish roe, where no doubt, the Queen has put it to be afterwards 

 distributed into the combs by the working ants, who, no doubt, 

 make the combs as well. 



In a well inhabited mound 6 feet long by 3 feet wide, I calculate 

 that there must be from 5 to IO millions of eggs and newly born 

 ants which cannot be seen properly without a strong glass ; can it 

 be possible that one Queen lays all these eggs, yet I seldom rind 

 more than one Queen in a mound, two is rare and 3 very rare. 



Queens are always found alone in the cells with a few full grown 

 fat termites coming in and out ; but of course it is to be supposed 

 that many had left from the noise of the digging. These atten- 

 dants no doubt feed the fat bloated looking Queen and help her 

 from the cell in which she has deposited enough eggs, into another 

 one to go on with the same operation. 



To all appearance the Queen cannot walk but she may be able 

 to move slowly like a worm. 



The average size of the Queen is one inch long but some are 

 much less find a few as much as 2 J inches long. You see the 

 Queen has 6 brown stripes across the back. 



