BIOLOGY OF THE TERMITES OF THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 27 
many escaped and the workers would escape more easily than the 
nymphs; (4) probably, unconsciously, more effort was made to cap- 
ture nymphs and soldiers than workers. The following figures, 
however, will probably approximate the relative abundance of castes. 
Nymphs of the first form, 279; nymphs of the second form, 86; 
nymphs of the first form in the quiescent stage, 31 ; individuals in the 
stage following, that is, with wings unfolded and held away from the 
body, 3; immature sexed adults without pigmentation, 17; immature 
sexed adults with gray pigmentation, 26; nearly mature adults, 5; 
nymphs of the second form molting, 4; workers, 93; soldiers, 24; 
the total being 568. Nymphs of the second form were only one- 
fourth as numerous as nymphs of the primary form, and, including 
all stages to sexed 
adults, gave a count 
of 90 to 361, respec- 
tively. 
On March 22, 1913, 
at Black Mountain, 
N. C, nymphs of the 
second form (Jiavipes) 
taken in a small de- 
caying oak branch on 
the ground greatly 
outnumbered nymphs 
of the first form, al- 
though usually the lat- 
ter is by far the more 
numerous form. 
Due to the wander- 
ing habits of species of 
this genus, it is difficult to estimate the size and extent of an old, 
well-established colony, which may branch out over several acres of 
grounds However, the number of individuals in well-established, 
permanent colonies probably runs up into the ten thousands, since 
from 5,000 to 10,000 (estimated) eggs, scatteringly or in clusters the 
size of a pea, were found in a large colony- of Leucotermes virginicus 
near Chain Bridge, Va., on June 19, 1913. This colony, which was 
in a large decaying black oak log, consisted of a large number of 
workers and soldiers, and numerous larvae. 
THE DIFFERENT CASTES— POLYMORPHISM. 
In a termite colony there are several different forms, or castes, of 
mature individuals, as well as those of different castes in the various 
stages of development. The castes are the workers, the soldiers, the 
Fig. 8.— Broken-off pine sapling from basal end of which tubes in fig- 
ure 7 were suspended by termites toward stump. (Original.) 
a The spreading out of a colony is largely due to increase in numbers and consequent 
need of fresh supply of food; that is, decaying wood. 
