TERMITES IN THE CANAL ZONE AND PANAMA. 9 
vegetation, woodwork of structures, and lead-sheathed cables. A 
white, thick liquid is secreted from the frontal gland opening in the 
head of the soldiers which serves as an effective material of defense. 
On July 26, 1921, Zetek collected soldiers and workers in galleries 
on the trunk of a black palm at La Loceria, Tumba Muerta Road 
(near Corundu River), near Panama City. These galleries were 
made of red earth and were thick, rough looking, flat, baked from 
the heat, and cracked; the main ones were from 4 to 8 inches wide 
and about one-half to three-fourths inch thick. From the main 
galleries smaller ones branched off. The termites were in the wood 
of the palm tree also. The soldiers when uncovered stood their 
ground and made lively jerky movements. 
On October 26, 1921, Zetek and Molino found soldiers and workers 
of Coptotermes niger on and in the trunk of an unknown tree at 
Ancon Hospital. The galleries consisted of a main one one-fourth 
to five-sixteenths inch wide, of earth, firm in texture, beginning 
at the earth surface and reaching to about 2 feet above, then bifur- 
cating, one branch leading to one " seminest." 5 the other to another 
one. These " seminests " were of earth, with galleries, firm, about 2 
inches by 4 inches in size, and extending about 1 inch into the wood. 
Many soldiers but few workers were present in the tunnels and wood. 
Several small " seminests " of earth, hard and brittle, were found in 
small hollows in the trunk of a " mamey de tierra " tree (Liwuma 
mammosa Gaertn.), at Ancon Hospital on this same day by Zetek 
and Molino. These nests were about 2 inches to 3 inches by 1 inch 
to 2 inches thick, and from them tunnels extended into the wood of 
the trunk. Scratching the bark of the tree brought out the soldiers. 
INJURY TO LEAD-SHEATHED CABLES IN THE LOCKS OF THE PANAMA CANAL. 
On November 7, 1921. Zetek and Molino collected specimens of 
Coptotermes niger in the center wall of Miraflores Locks, Canal 
Zone. The insects had eateri into the lead sheathing of the duplex 
cables. This damage to the lead was first noted about November 1, 
when the telephone service was unsatisfactoi^. R. S. Mills, acting 
assistant superintendent of the Pacific locks, then in charge of the 
Miraflores section, and E. St. Clair Clayton, one of the operators in 
the control house at the Miraflores Locks, are responsible for calling 
attention to this injury and for helping in eveiw possible way to 
get data, specimens of the insects and of the damaged cables, and 
photographs (Pis. V and YI) . M. N. Shaw, cable splicer, first found 
this infestation about three weeks before the date (November 7, 
1921) mentioned above. No positive data as to money value of the 
loss could be obtained. Fifty feet of duplex lead-covered cable had 
to be replaced and the cost of the cable, the salary and time of the 
cable splicer, etc.. would easily amount to $100. 
No. 12 stranded rubber and lead-covered duplex 600-volt cable is 
used for telephone service; for ringing, 110 volts 25-cycle alternating 
current is used; for talking, 24-volt battery current is used. 
An 8-conductor braided and rubber-insulated lead-covered control 
cable, carrying 220 volts, 25-cycle, alternating current, was also at- 
5 Coptotermes niger does not construct regular external nests as do some termites, but 
builds earthlike nests in hollows in wood, as well as honeycombing the wood, in a man- 
ner similar to that of species of Reticulitermes. 
