Die Termiten Japans.* 



Von 



Nils Holmgren 



Stockholm. 



Die Kenntniss der japanischen Termitenfauna war bis jetzt sehr 

 arm. Durch Reisenden wurden freilich zu verschiedenen Museen 

 einige sporadische Stücke heimgebracht, aber mit einer einzigen Aus- 

 nahme wurden sie nicht beschrieben. Auch muss zugestanden werden, 

 dass die Beschreibung von einer Imago hie, und einem Soldaten da, 

 von wenig Interesse war, und den Termitenforschern wenig anziehend 

 sein könnte. Seitdem aber nun die japanischen Forscher sich selbst 

 der Erforschung ihrer Fauna gewidmet haben, ist es ja zu erwarten, 

 dass sie mit gewöhnlicher Gründlichheit und Eifer die Kenntniss des- 

 Tierweltes ihres Landes erforschen werden. In termitologischer Hin- 

 sicht ist nun diese Erforschung begonnen, und WATASÉ und Hozawa 



* The specimens of the Japanese termites, which formed the material for Prof. Holmgren's 

 present paper, had been sent from the Zoological Institute of the Imperial University cf 

 Tokio. Prof. Holmgren's more detailed report on the Japanese termines will be incorporated 

 in his forthcoming Monographie der Termiten des orientalischen Regions. 



As Prof. Holmgren points out, the species of the Japanese termites known to the natur- 

 alists of Europe and America have thus far been extremely meagre — only two in fact. His- 

 present paper brings them up to twelve. 



In justice to the Japanese naturalisé, however, it must not bs supposed that they have 

 been indifferent to the rich termite fauna of the country. In fact, the termites have been 

 made the subject of much study within recent years in this country, chiefly in view of the 

 fact that some of the species do extensive injury to wooden structures. 



Neither their systematics have been neglected on their part. Written in the Japanese 

 language, however, with no organization at present, whereby the contents of such produc- 

 tions are made intelligible to the workers of the western world, it is not to be expected 

 that such works reach very far, unless the authors took the trouble of translating them 

 themselves, which in the case of the Japanese termite literature, had never been done. 



Although further details may be expected in his forthcoming monograph of the Oriental 

 termites, Prof. Holmgren's present paper on the termites of Japan will be of much value 

 to all workers who are interested in the same subject, and to those who take interest in 

 the problem of zoogeography for this part of the world.— S. WATASE. 



